RADIAN ASAP with LiveID – Fast, Specific, and Easy Drug Screening

Significance of the topic

The rapid and reliable screening of seized drug samples is essential for forensic and law enforcement laboratories facing large workloads and tight turnaround requirements. Traditional presumptive tests such as colorimetric assays, TLC, or FTIR may be limited by false positives, lack of reagents for novel substances, or lengthy analysis times. Mass spectrometry with ambient ionization offers a promising alternative by combining high specificity with minimal sample preparation, helping to reduce backlogs and speed up casework.

Objectives and overview of the study

This application brief evaluates the performance of the RADIAN ASAP direct mass detector coupled with LiveID 2.0 software for rapid drug screening. The study aims to demonstrate simple sample preparation, real-time library matching, and sufficient specificity and sensitivity to support forensic workflows. Certified reference materials, pharmaceutical and OTC products, and over 60 unknown field samples were analyzed to assess accuracy, speed, and practicality.

Methodology and instrumentation

Samples (standards, tablets, powders, capsules) were diluted in methanol or methanol:water, then introduced by a ‘dipping’ method using a glass capillary. The RADIAN ASAP source desorbs and ionizes analytes via a heated nitrogen gas stream and corona discharge, generating primarily protonated molecules [M+H]+. Mass spectrometric data were acquired in full scan mode (m/z 50–600) at four cone voltages (15, 25, 35, 50 V) to produce both molecular and fragment ions for spectral fingerprinting. LiveID 2.0 software provided real-time matching to a built-in spectral library, assigning match factors (cut-off ≥850 for reporting, ≥900 for high confidence).

• RADIAN ASAP direct mass detector
• LiveID 2.0 library matching software
• High-resolution QTof MS screening (for confirmatory comparison)

Main results and discussion

Analysis of 67 certified reference materials (50 µg/mL) demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity. Of the 40 compounds present in the LiveID library, 39 were correctly identified above the 850 match-factor threshold, with most >900. The average specificity was 92.6%, with only two false positives attributable to library gaps for related analogues (PMA vs. methamphetamine). Performance was consistent across desolvation temperatures (450 °C vs. 600 °C), with marginal improvements at 600 °C for some analytes. In field samples, RADIAN ASAP with LiveID yielded results within one minute and showed strong qualitative agreement with established HRMS screening methods. Common illicit drugs such as MDMA and ketamine were efficiently detected.

Benefits and practical applications

• Minimal sample preparation and direct analysis
• Fast screening turnaround (<1 minute per sample)
• Enhanced specificity via multi-voltage data acquisition
• Real-time spectral matching and intuitive match factors
• Compact, low-cost instrumentation suitable for high-throughput labs

Future trends and opportunities

As forensic laboratories face evolving drug landscapes and novel psychoactive substances, expanding spectral libraries and integrating ambient MS screening could further improve identification rates and reduce reliance on chromatographic confirmation. Automated sample handling and cloud-based library updates may enhance throughput and ensure rapid adaptation to emerging threats.

• Library expansion to cover new analogues and NPS
• Integration with automated sampling platforms
• Cloud-based spectral data sharing and software updates
• Coupling with quantitative workflows for potency estimation

Conclusion

RADIAN ASAP combined with LiveID 2.0 offers a streamlined, robust workflow for rapid drug screening in forensic settings. It delivers high sensitivity and specificity, near-real-time results, and minimal sample handling, making it a valuable triage tool to complement confirmatory MS methods and alleviate laboratory backlogs.

Reference

• Scientific Working Group for the Analysis of Seized Drugs, Edition 8, June 2019.
• ASTM E2329-17: Standard Practice for Identification of Seized Drugs, Oct 2017.
• RADIAN ASAP brochure 720007023EN, Waters Corporation.
• UNIFI Forensic Toxicology Screening Solution brochure 720004830EN.
• Rosano TG, Wood M, Ihenetu K, Swift TA. Drug Screening in Medical Examiner Casework by High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MSE-TOF). J. Anal. Toxicol. 2013;1–14.