Quantitation of Seven Designer Cathinones in Urine Using Q Exactive Mass Spectrometer

Instrument Type: LCMSMS

Substituted cathinones, or “Bath Salts,” have become the latest abused designer drugs. Based on cathinone, a substance found in the African Catha edulis (khat) plant, substituted cathinones are stimulants with amphetamine- and cocaine-like effects. We describe an HPLC-MS method for the forensic toxicological analysis of the three Schedule I cathinones: MDPV, methylone and mephedrone, as well as other substituted cathinones: methedrone, ethylone, butylone and naphyrone in urine with limits of quantitation (LOQs) of 0.5 ng/mL. For forensic use only.