Dried matrix spots: an evolving trend in the toxicological field

Area of Science:

• Toxicology
• Analytical Chemistry
• Forensic Science

Background:

• Dried matrix spot (DMS) sampling, initially for newborn metabolic screening, is expanding into toxicology.
• Its advantages include sample stability, simplified procedures, and cost-effectiveness compared to liquid matrices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review analytical methods using DMS for drugs of abuse detection since 2010.
• To assess the application of DMS across different biological matrices in forensic toxicology.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of three databases using keywords: dried, spots, drugs of abuse.
• Snowball search and exclusion criteria applied, resulting in 39 relevant papers.
• Analysis of extraction techniques and analytical methods, primarily liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Main Results:

• Blood was the most common matrix (77%), followed by urine (13%) and oral fluid (10%).
• Studies covered diverse illicit drugs with sample volumes from 5 to 250 µL.
• Liquid extraction and LC-MS/MS were predominant analytical techniques.

Conclusions:

• DMS is a promising technique in toxicology due to its simplicity, stability, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benefits.
• It offers new perspectives for drug abuse testing in forensic laboratories.
• Further research can expand its utility across various biological matrices.