Saliva Screening for Drugs of Abuse: High-Throughput and Rapid Screening Method Developed

A recent study published in Analytical Chemistry has developed a new method for the rapid and high-throughput screening of drugs of abuse in saliva (1). The method, which combines solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and automated microfluidic open interface-mass spectrometry (MOI-MS), can detect a wide range of drugs, including cocaine and amphetamines, in just a few minutes.

Drug testing is an important tool for detecting the use of illegal substances and maintaining public safety. Traditional methods of drug testing, such as urine analysis, can be time-consuming and require specialized equipment. The new method developed in this study uses SPME to extract drugs from saliva samples, followed by automated microfluidic open interface-mass spectrometry to detect and quantify the drugs.

The researchers tested the method on a range of drugs of abuse, including cocaine, amphetamines, and fentanyl. They found that the method was able to detect even trace amounts of these drugs in just a few minutes, with high levels of accuracy and precision.

One of the advantages of this new method is that it requires minimal sample preparation and can be automated for high-throughput screening. This makes it a valuable tool for drug testing in law enforcement and workplace settings, where rapid and accurate drug screening is essential.

Overall, this new method provides a promising approach for the rapid and high-throughput screening of drugs of abuse in saliva, and could have important applications in drug testing and public safety.

Reference

(1) Zhou, W.; Nazdrajić, E.; Pawliszyn, J. High-Throughput and Rapid Screening of Drugs of Abuse in Saliva by Multi-Segment Injection Using Solid-Phase Microextraction-Automated Microfluidic Open Interface-Mass Spectrometry. Anal. Chem. 2023, April 6. DOI:10.1021/acs.analchem.2c05782