The application of quadrupole mass filters in field desorption mass spectrometry

The advantages and limitations which quadrupole mass filters afford to the field desorption technique with respect to use for routine work are discussed and experimentally confirmed by the analyses of some drugs using a field desorption quadrupole mass spectrometer. The possibility of fast identification of drug intoxication is demonstrated by the analysis of the chloroform extract of urine in a case of overdose of hypnotics.