Detection and quantification of cocaine and benzoylecgonine in meconium using solid phase extraction and UPLC/MS/MS

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Forensic Toxicology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Neonatal exposure to cocaine can have severe health consequences.
• Accurate detection of cocaine and its metabolites in meconium is crucial for diagnosis.
• Existing analytical methods may lack the speed or sensitivity required for comprehensive screening.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a simultaneous analytical method for cocaine and benzoylecgonine in meconium.
• To utilize Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) for enhanced speed and sensitivity.
• To establish reliable quantification limits for neonatal drug testing.

Main Methods:

• Meconium samples underwent protein precipitation with cold acetonitrile, followed by mixed-mode solid-phase extraction (SPE).
• Ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was employed for separation and detection.
• Quantification was performed using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) with calibration curves generated in negative blood.

Main Results:

• The UPLC-MS/MS method achieved separation and quantification of both analytes in under 2 minutes.
• The limit of detection (LOD) for both cocaine and benzoylecgonine was determined to be 3 ng/g.
• The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) was established at 30 ng/g for both compounds.

Conclusions:

• The developed UPLC-MS/MS method provides a rapid, sensitive, and specific approach for simultaneous cocaine and benzoylecgonine determination in meconium.
• This method is suitable for clinical and forensic toxicology applications, aiding in the assessment of prenatal drug exposure.
• The high throughput and efficiency of UPLC-MS/MS offer advantages over traditional analytical techniques for meconium drug screening.