Analysis of Lysergide (LSD): The Development of Novel Enzyme Immunoassay and Immunoaffinity Extraction Procedures Together With an HPLC-MS Confirmation Procedure

• NCJ Number: 164942
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 41 Issue: 6 Dated: (November 1996) Pages: 938-946
• Author(s): K S Webb; P B Baker; N P Cassells; J M Francis; D E Johnston; S L Lancaster; P S Minty; G D Reed; S A White
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 9 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Technical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DCC

Annotation

A forensic procedure for screening and confirming the presence of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in urine and a novel enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and immunoaffinity extraction procedure are described.

Abstract

Following initial screening using either an established radioimmunoassay (RIA) or a novel EIA procedure, a quantitative estimate was established using a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique following solid phase extraction. Final confirmation and quantitation, without derivatization, was established using HPLC in combination with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (MS) and using methysergide as an internal standard. The detection limit of LSD in urine was 0.5 ng/ml, and a blind trial confirmed the validity of the results. The choice of internal standard is discussed, with consideration paid to the photosensitivity of LSD solutions. A study of potential interferants in the HPLC-MS confirmation of LSD indicates that, for the wide range of compounds studied, none interfere with this confirmation technique. A comparison is shown between solid phase and immunoaffinity extraction/cleanup procedures and between RIA and EIA screening procedures. The authors conclude that HPLC-MS provides unequivocal identification of underivatized LSD in urine, with quantification down to a detection limit of 0.5 ng/ml. 12 references, 4 tables, and 10 figures