Identification of Cannabinoids in Baked Goods by UHPLC/MS

Instrument Type: LCMS

Marijuana is the most common illegal drug in the United States. Presumptive positive results are confirmed by using GC/MS to positively identify cannabinoids. While this traditional approach works fairly well for leaf marijuana, hashish, hash oil and residue collected from smoking paraphernalia, GC/MS is less useful for confirming the presence of marijuana in complex food matrices such as baked goods. We describe a method to positively identify trace amounts of cannabinoids in a complex food matrix quickly, with minimal sample preparation and no chemical derivatization.

Identification of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) in Candy by UHPLC/MS

Instrument Type: LCMS

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a controlled substance in forensic chemistry that is notorious for being difficult to identify. Its myriad evidentiary forms include paper tabs, eye drops, sugar cubes and small sugary candies such as sweet tarts, valentine hearts or mints. Most forensic laboratories confirm the presence of LSD by using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). We describe the benefits of a method to positively identify trace amounts of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in sugar candy quickly, with minimal sample preparation and no chemical derivatization.

Identification of Psychotropic Substances in Mushrooms and Chocolate by UHPLC/MS

Instrument Type: LCMS

The identification of controlled substances in food matrices is a challenge for forensic laboratories. Classical techniques, such as color tests and thin-layer chromatography, do not provide molecular structural information and cannot be used as a principal means of identification. Infrared spectroscopy (IR) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) can identify controlled substances, but suffer from several shortcomings. We describe a UHPLC/MS method for the detection, separation and confirmation of psilocybin and psilocin in mushrooms and chocolate matrices.