An Ultra-Fast Identification of Transdermal Drug Patches Using QuickProbe GC/MS

Moshe Burshtein , National Drugs Lab, Jerusalem, Israel (Buri.forensics@gmail.com)
Simcha Shimron, National Drugs Lab, Jerusalem, Israel

Fentanyl and Buprenorphine are two of the main opioid drugs contributing to the global opioid crisis. Opioid overdoses claimed the lives of nearly 100,000 people in the United States alone in 2021. Synthetic opioids were responsible for more than 66% of those deaths. Analyzing opioid exhibits can lead to dangerous exposure to the hazardous substance, thus to ensure safety a minimum sample preparation is essential. In addition, fast and reliable analysis results are always beneficial in the analytical world. To demonstrate the concept we analyzed painkiller transdermal patches with the Quick Probe Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry device (QP-GC/MS). The combination between a short chromatographic column and the direct insertion of the sample in the QP-GC/MS leads to a sensitive method for chemical identification. This direct analysis with practically no sample preparation enables a safer workplace and ultra-fast identification of the dangerous substance.  This method can be used for fast screening or for comprehensive analysis which meets the international requirements for illicit drug identification.