Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry as a New Quantitative Drug Checking Technology for Harm Reduction and Drug Surveillance

Significance of the Topic

Illicit opioid overdose has become the leading cause of unnatural death in British Columbia, driven largely by fentanyl and its analogs. Rapid, accurate drug checking methods are essential for harm reduction and public health surveillance to inform safer consumption practices and guide policy decisions.

Objectives and Study Overview

This study evaluates paper spray mass spectrometry (PS-MS) as a quantitative, on-site drug checking technology. It aims to demonstrate the method’s speed, sensitivity, and selectivity for detecting and quantifying opioids and emerging synthetic analogs within harm reduction settings.

Methodology

PS-MS enables direct analysis of trace drug residues on paper substrates without sample preparation or carrier gases. Key features include:

• Analysis time: 1–2 minutes per sample
• Minimal solvent and sample consumption
• Combination of targeted selected reaction monitoring (SRM) and non-targeted full-scan acquisition
• Use of internal standards and signal area ratios for robust quantitation

Two pilot testing phases were conducted:

• Downtown Eastside Vancouver: 119 samples over two days
• Vancouver Island Drug Checking Project: ~2,500 samples since September 2020

Used Instrumentation

The core instrumentation comprised a paper spray ionization source coupled to a high-performance mass spectrometer capable of SRM transitions and full mass scans. Mobile deployment involved transferring the system from laboratory to supervised consumption sites for real-time analysis.

Main Results and Discussion

Downtown Eastside pilot:

• Rapid 0.8-minute method achieved quantitative detection of multiple opioids
• Etizolam identified in 12 opioid samples at concentrations between 0.7 % and 8.9 % w/w (mean 3.9 %)

Vancouver Island deployment:

• 106 of 123 expected opioid samples contained fentanyl (0.3 %–72.9 % w/w)
• Carfentanil and fluorofentanyl detected in five cases at low levels undetected by other techniques

These results highlight PS-MS’s high sensitivity, wide dynamic range, and ability to identify low-level adulterants, enhancing the reliability of drug checking services.

Benefits and Practical Applications

PS-MS addresses key requirements of harm reduction drug checking:

• Rapid turnaround at supervised consumption sites
• Quantitative results to inform user decisions
• High selectivity reduces false positives and negatives
• Minimal infrastructure and consumables
• Adaptable to detect emerging synthetic drugs

Future Trends and Opportunities

Anticipated developments include:

• Integration with portable devices for outreach services
• Automated data analysis platforms leveraging machine learning
• Expansion to other drug classes and biological matrices
• Standardization of protocols for broader public health surveillance

Conclusion

Paper spray mass spectrometry offers a rapid, quantitative, and adaptable approach for on-site drug checking. Its successful deployment in pilot and collaborative projects demonstrates its potential to improve harm reduction efforts and support drug surveillance initiatives.

References

1. Borden SA, Saatchi A, Gill CG. Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry as a New Quantitative Drug Checking Technology for Harm Reduction and Drug Surveillance. Applied Environmental Research Laboratories, Vancouver Island University; Chemistry Department, University of Victoria; 2021.
2. Vandergrift GW, Hessels AJ, Palaty J, Krogh ET, Gill CG. Quantitative analysis using paper spray mass spectrometry with internal standards. Clinical Biochemistry. 2018;54:106–11.