Comprehensive Drug Screening by Thermal Desorption and Pyrolysis Combined with Direct Analysis in Real Time-Mass Spectrometry (TDP/DART-MS)

Rapid and accurate analysis of drugs using direct analysis in real time-mass spectrometry (DART-MS) combined with thermal desorption pyrolysis (TDP/DART-MS) is described in this chapter. Rapid drug screening is very important in cases of suspected drug abuse. However, acquiring accurate analytical data requires highly optimized sample handling and technical expertise. Although rapid drug analysis using mass spectrometry provides reliable data, it is not commonly used because of its complexity. Thus, a comprehensive analysis system for drugs that requires minimal optimization of sample preparation and analytical conditions is strongly desired. DART-MS involves ambient ionization mass spectrometric analysis with little to no sample preparation. We have coupled this approach with thermal TDP/DART-MS and demonstrate how it can be used to detect drugs in complex matrices such as urine or blood.