Determination of Novel Psychoactive Substances in Hair
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 2, 2026
Validated LC-MS/MS Panel for Quantifying 11 Drug-Resistant TB Medications in Small Hair Samples
Published on: May 19, 2020
Seokjin Hwang1, Ana Miguel Fonseca Pego2
1St. John's University, 8000 Utopia Parkway, Queens, NY, 11439, USA.
Abstract:
The rapid emergence of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) poses challenges for forensic toxicology laboratories. Hair offers a unique matrix for retrospective drug exposure monitoring due to its long detection window, noninvasive collection, and high stability. Here, we describe a fast, high-throughput method for the detection and quantitation of over 30 emerging NPS from multiple drug classes, including synthetic opioids, cathinones, cannabinoids, dissociative drugs, designer benzodiazepines, and hallucinogens, in human hair using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). This procedure uses bead mill pulverization, methanolic extraction, and LC-MS/MS analysis with a multianalyte calibration curve.
