Development of an in-house HPLC method for the analysis of ecstasy-laced beverages

Abstract Background Pills of ecstasy continue to be the major drug of abuse among nightclub patrons. This stimulant type of substance can be taken orally in many ways, one of which is by drink spiking where the tablet or its powder is deliberately added to some beverage before consumption. Method A...

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Main Authors: Kar-Weng Chan, Suraya Hani Ramli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2018-02-01
Series:Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41935-018-0048-8
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spelling doaj-41f55843dec8451f818aea2a1f741ac62020-11-25T00:00:45ZengSpringerOpenEgyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences2090-59392018-02-01811810.1186/s41935-018-0048-8Development of an in-house HPLC method for the analysis of ecstasy-laced beveragesKar-Weng Chan0Suraya Hani Ramli1Research and Instrumentation Unit, Department of Chemistry Malaysia, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI)Research and Instrumentation Unit, Department of Chemistry Malaysia, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI)Abstract Background Pills of ecstasy continue to be the major drug of abuse among nightclub patrons. This stimulant type of substance can be taken orally in many ways, one of which is by drink spiking where the tablet or its powder is deliberately added to some beverage before consumption. Method A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed to quantify three analytes (methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and ketamine) extracted from beverages associated with drink spiking. Ribena drink, Lipton tea drink and Pepsi soft drink were employed as the target sample matrices for validation studies. Results The HPLC method was found precise (RSD < 3.2%) and accurate (mean recovery between 97 and 107%) regardless of the matrix type used. The linearity curve for each analyte presented a good regression line with a coefficient of determination, R2 > 0.994. The method was sensitive to detect at least 0.004 mg/mL spiked drugs and precise to quantify the lowest limit of analytes at 0.02 mg/mL. Conclusion Analysis of beverages which were contrivedly spiked with genuine ecstasy substances substantiated that the method is fit for the intended purpose.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41935-018-0048-8EcstasyBeverageDrink spikingHPLC
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Kar-Weng Chan
Suraya Hani Ramli
spellingShingle Kar-Weng Chan
Suraya Hani Ramli
Development of an in-house HPLC method for the analysis of ecstasy-laced beverages
Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences
Ecstasy
Beverage
Drink spiking
HPLC
author_facet Kar-Weng Chan
Suraya Hani Ramli
author_sort Kar-Weng Chan
title Development of an in-house HPLC method for the analysis of ecstasy-laced beverages
title_short Development of an in-house HPLC method for the analysis of ecstasy-laced beverages
title_full Development of an in-house HPLC method for the analysis of ecstasy-laced beverages
title_fullStr Development of an in-house HPLC method for the analysis of ecstasy-laced beverages
title_full_unstemmed Development of an in-house HPLC method for the analysis of ecstasy-laced beverages
title_sort development of an in-house hplc method for the analysis of ecstasy-laced beverages
publisher SpringerOpen
series Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences
issn 2090-5939
publishDate 2018-02-01
description Abstract Background Pills of ecstasy continue to be the major drug of abuse among nightclub patrons. This stimulant type of substance can be taken orally in many ways, one of which is by drink spiking where the tablet or its powder is deliberately added to some beverage before consumption. Method A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed to quantify three analytes (methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and ketamine) extracted from beverages associated with drink spiking. Ribena drink, Lipton tea drink and Pepsi soft drink were employed as the target sample matrices for validation studies. Results The HPLC method was found precise (RSD < 3.2%) and accurate (mean recovery between 97 and 107%) regardless of the matrix type used. The linearity curve for each analyte presented a good regression line with a coefficient of determination, R2 > 0.994. The method was sensitive to detect at least 0.004 mg/mL spiked drugs and precise to quantify the lowest limit of analytes at 0.02 mg/mL. Conclusion Analysis of beverages which were contrivedly spiked with genuine ecstasy substances substantiated that the method is fit for the intended purpose.
topic Ecstasy
Beverage
Drink spiking
HPLC
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41935-018-0048-8
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