Portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in drug checking: Detection of carfentanil and etizolam in expected opioid samples.
BACKGROUND
There has been a recent increase in adulteration of opioids with low concentration actives such as fentanyl analogues and benzodiazepines. As drug checking projects using vibrational spectroscopy continue to seek confirmatory lab-based testing, the concern and reality of missing these potentially harmful substances in point-of-care testing is prevalent.


METHODS
A portable GC-MS was used to analyze select opioid samples acquired at a drug checking service in Victoria, Canada (n=59). Certified reference standards of several fentanyl analogues and benzodiazepines were measured to guide targeted analysis of these samples. Results were compared with those obtained using a lab-based paper spray mass spectrometer.


RESULTS
Portable GC-MS was able to identify 62% of samples containing carfentanil and 36% of samples containing etizolam. In the case of etizolam, the success rate was higher for more potent samples: 78% of etizolam-containing samples were identified when the etizolam concentration was above 3% by weight. In comparison, infrared spectroscopy was able to detect etizolam in only 9% of the etizolam-containing samples, and is not sensitive enough to detect carfentanil at relevant concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
Portable GC-MS has potential in identifying low concentration substances in a point-of-care setting, without relying on subsequent off-site confirmatory testing.
['Gozdzialski|Lea|L|', 'Aasen|Jarred|J|', 'Larnder|Ashley|A|', 'Ramsay|Margo|M|', 'Borden|Scott A|SA|', 'Saatchi|Armin|A|', 'Gill|Chris G|CG|', 'Wallace|Bruce|B|', 'Hore|Dennis K|DK|']
Drug checking Carfentanil Etizolam Fentanyl Gas chromatography Mass spectrometry