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Evaluation of an Oral Fluid Collection Device and a Solid-Phase Extraction Method for the Determination of Coca Leaf Alkaloids by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Authors :
Pamela Cabarcos-Fernández
Ivan Álvarez-Freire
Nelida Cristina Rubio
Ana Maria Bermejo-Barrera
Antonio Moreda-Piñeiro
Ines Sánchez-Sellero
Maria Jesus Tabernero-Duque
Source :
Molecules, Vol 29, Iss 3, p 592 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2024.

Abstract

Some South American countries have ancient traditions that may pose legal problems, such as the consumption of coca leaves, as this can provide positive results for cocaine use after the analysis of biological samples. For this reason, it is necessary to find specific markers that help differentiate legal from illegal consumption, such as tropacocaine, cinnamoylcocaine, and especially hygrine and cuscohygrine. In this work, two techniques for collecting biological samples are compared: the Quantisal® Oral Fluid collection device and passive drooling. Once the samples were collected, they were subjected to solid-phase extraction for subsequent injection into GC-MS. Different validation parameters included in international guides have been studied to evaluate whether the proposed method is valid for the defined purpose, placing special emphasis on the study of the matrix effect and little value on GC-MS analyses. With respect to this parameter, an increase in the signal was found for CUS and t-CIN, but it was not significant for the rest of the substances studied. The recoveries have varied significantly depending on the way of working, being higher when working with standardized areas. After carrying out work with the oral fluid samples collected from laboratory volunteers, the method was applied to two real samples. The results obtained support the need for further research to overcome certain limitations presented by the device.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
14203049
Volume :
29
Issue :
3
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Molecules
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.10a38770e0b64533ae528263af8bcad0
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29030592