DETERMINATION OF SYNTHETIC CANNABINOID 5-FLUORO-MDMB-PICA IN NARCOTIC DRUGS BY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS SPECTROMETRY

Nguyễn Hùng Cường1,, Nguyễn Đăng Tiến2
1 University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City
2 National Institute of Criminal Sciences in HCMC

Main Article Content

Abstract

Objectives:A gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was developed and validated for 5-FLUORO-MDMB-PICA innarcotic drugs. Subjects and methods: Synthetic cannabis samples contained in American grass collected in criminal cases in Vietnam from 2018 to 2020, were processed and used as test samples to validate the 5-FLUORO-MDMB-PICA GC-MS analyticalmethod according to ICH guidelines. Results: The 5-FLUORO-MDMB-PICA analytical, method was successfully developed withappropriate chromatographic conditions. The procedure was validatedwith suitablerepeatability and accuracywith a detection limit of 0,06 mg/mL. The average content of 5-FLUORO-MDMB-PICA in American grass was determined to be in the range of 2.2 mg per 100 mg of American grass(2,2%). Conclusions: For the first time in Vietnam, theanalytical method to determine 5-FLUORO-MDMB-PICA in American grass samples has been developed and validated. The process is simple, fast, inexpensive, and the results are highly reproduciblewith reliable, accuracy. The methodsatisfies all requirements according to ICH guidelines. Conclusively, this processcouldhelp to identify and quantify quickly and accuratelythe 5-FLUORO-MDMB-PICA incriminalevidences, andcan be widely applied in drug testing laboratories in Vietnam. This work, contributes to themethod development of assessing new synthetic cannabinoids, and develop national security standards in the fight against drug-related crimes.

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References

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