GEN-MKT-18-7897-A
Feb 16, 2017 | Blogs, Forensic | 0 comments
While most analytes in forensic applications analyze well with positive ionization, there are analytes that show better ionization efficiency with negative ionization, for example, acidic compounds. These analytes include ethanol metabolites such as ethyl glucuronide (ETG), ethyl sulfate (ETS), and the barbiturates such as amobarbital, butabarbital, butalbital, pentobarbital, phenobarbital, and secobarbital.
In this technical note, researchers demonstrated a method to simultaneously analyze ethanol metabolites and barbiturates in human urine using QTRAP®/Triple Quad 4500 LC-MS/MS system. Sample preparation is based on a simple “dilute and shoot” methodology. The method has a total runtime of 5 minutes, shows good sensitivity and is very robust. More than 800 continuous injections of human urine samples were performed on a single LC column with no deterioration in performance evident.
How does this test play out in real-world scenarios? ETG and ETS are biomarkers for determining the presence of alcohol over the past 80 hours where ETG is the direct metabolite of alcohol. ETG is only detected if alcohol has been consumed. What is more is that urine tests are the most common and inexpensive choice when testing for drug use and can be easily captured. Making sure results stand up in court, but also being able to run simultaneous drug screenings will help your lab keep up with sample workloads while also producing reliable results.
Regulated laboratories are evolving faster than ever. New analytical modalities, higher sample throughput, increasing regulatory scrutiny, and leaner teams are reshaping how work gets done. At the same time, expectations for data integrity, standardization, and operational efficiency continue to increase complexity and/or scope. In this environment, LC-MS software is no longer simply an instrument control platform—it has become a critical part of a laboratory’s quality management system. The question is no longer whether your lab has changed, but whether your software has evolved to support the way regulated labs operate today, and if they are ready and able to meet the demands, they will face tomorrow.
Analyst software has long been a trusted foundation in regulated LC-MS laboratories—and for many, it still performs reliably today. But regulated environments are evolving faster than ever. As labs transition to Windows 11, strengthen cybersecurity policies, modernize IT infrastructure, and prepare for future compliance expectations, software decisions are no longer just about what works today—they’re about managing tomorrow’s risk. Analyst will not be supported on Windows 11. While some labs may continue operating in unsupported environments temporarily, the bigger question is: when that risk becomes reality, will your lab be reacting under pressure—or executing a planned mitigation strategy with confidence?
As regulatory scrutiny increases and detection requirements tighten, laboratories are facing a new question: How can TFA be measured reliably, sensitively, and at scale?
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