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Updated: May 20, 2026
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High-throughput and Comprehensive Drug Surveillance Using Multisegment Injection-Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry
Published on: April 23, 2019
Cocaine and metabolites by LC-MS/MS
Christine L H Snozek1, Matthew W Bjergum, Loralie J Langman
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|July 7, 2012
Summary
This study presents an assay to detect cocaine and its metabolites, aiding in sample validity, toxicity assessment, and identifying co-use with ethanol.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Toxicology
- Analytical Chemistry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cocaine (COC) abuse is a significant global health issue.
- Both powder and crack forms of cocaine are highly addictive, causing euphoria and alertness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and describe an assay for detecting and quantifying cocaine and its metabolites.
- To identify specific metabolites indicative of sample validity, toxicity, route of administration, and co-ingestion with ethanol.
Main Methods:
- Development of a quantitative assay.
- Detection of parent cocaine (COC).
- Quantification of key metabolites: benzoylecgonine, m-hydroxybenzoylecgonine, norcocaine, anhydroecgonine methyl ester, and cocaethylene.
Main Results:
- The assay successfully detects and quantifies parent cocaine.
- Identification of major metabolite benzoylecgonine.
- Detection of specific metabolites for validity (m-hydroxybenzoylecgonine), toxicity (norcocaine), administration route (anhydroecgonine methyl ester), and ethanol co-use (cocaethylene).
Conclusions:
- The described assay provides comprehensive information on cocaine use.
- It aids in assessing sample integrity and potential drug toxicity.
- The assay is valuable for forensic and clinical toxicology applications.
