D esigner P sychostimulants in U rine by L iquid C hromatography– T andem M ass S pectrometry ,

Designer psychostimulants are known by recreational drug users to produce a complex array of adrenergic and hallucinogenic effects. Many of these drugs are not targeted during routine toxicology testing and as a consequence, they are rarely reported. The purpose of this study was to develop a procedure for the detection of 15 psychostimulants in urine using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry ( LC ‐ MS / MS ), specifically 2,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐bromophenethylamine (2 C ‐ B ), 2,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐chlorophenethylamine (2 C ‐ C ), 2,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐methylphenethylamine (2 C ‐ D ), 2,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐ethylphenethylamine (2C‐ E ), 2,5‐dimethoxyphenethylamine (2 C ‐ H ), 2,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐iodophenethylamine (2 C ‐ I ), 2,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐ethylthiophenethylamine (2 C ‐ T ‐2), 2,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐isopropylthiophenethylamine (2 C ‐ T ‐4), 2,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐propylthiophenethylamine (2 C ‐ T ‐7), 2,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐bromoamphetamine ( DOB ), 2,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐chloroamphetamine ( DOC ), 2,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐ethylamphetamine ( DOET ), 2,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐iodoamphetamine ( DOI ), 2,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐methylamphetamine ( DOM ), and 4‐methylthioamphetamine (4‐ MTA ). Analytical recoveries using solid‐phase extraction were 64–92% and the limit of detection was 0.5 ng/mL for all drugs except 2 C ‐ B (1 ng/mL). The assay was evaluated in terms of analytical recovery, precision, accuracy, linearity, matrix effect, and interferences. The technique allows for the simultaneous detection of 15 psychostimulants at sub‐ng/ mL concentrations.