Goal

Optimize a UHPLC/MS method with respect to stationary phase, mobile phase, and detector settings to achieve picogram level quantitation of 14 drugs and metabolites employing a 12 minutes separation.

Introduction

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is commonly employed for the separation and identification of drugs and metabolites in forensic toxicology, using electron impact (EI) or chemical ionization (CI).This methodology has become a “gold standard” in terms of admissibility and defensibility in court because of its good sensitivity, excellent selectivity and a high degree of standardization. However, laborious and time-consuming derivatization procedures and sample clean ups are mandatory in most cases.

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