Analytical Instruments Solutions for Seized Drugs

Importance of Topic

The accurate analysis of seized drugs is critical for forensic casework and legal proceedings. Seized materials may appear as powders, tablets, oils or edibles, requiring versatile analytical strategies. International guidelines such as SWGDRUG and OSAC define minimum performance criteria for screening and confirmatory testing. Shimadzu’s portfolio of analytical instruments addresses these requirements by offering methods with varying levels of selectivity, sensitivity and throughput.

Aims and Overview of Study

This whitepaper presents an integrated analytical scheme for seized drug identification, covering screening (Category C), general-purpose separation (Category B) and high-selectivity confirmatory techniques (Category A). The goal is to demonstrate key performance characteristics, practical workflows and case examples illustrating successful identification and quantitation of controlled substances.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The analytical workflow spans:

• Category C screening by fluorescence spectroscopy
• Category B preliminary tests by UV-Vis, gas chromatography (GC), liquid chromatography (LC) and supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC)
• Category A confirmation by GC-MS, LC-MS, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR/ATR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD)

Used Instrumentation

• Fluorescence Spectrofluorometer RF-6000
• UV-Vis Spectrophotometer UV-1900i
• Gas Chromatograph Nexis GC-2030 (FID)
• UHPLC-PDA and Cannabis & Hemp Analyzers on Nexera-i LC-2040C 3D
• Supercritical Fluid Chromatograph Nexera UC
• Gas Chromatograph–Mass Spectrometer GCMS-NX Series with autosampler
• Single-quad LC-MS LCMS-2020
• FTIR Spectrophotometers IRSpirit / IRAffinity-1 and SurveyIR microscope
• XRD Diffractometers XRD-6100 / 7000 with OneSight detector
• Spectral and mass libraries (NIST/Wiley, SWGDRUG IR, LC-MSn, Designer Drugs)

Main Results and Discussion

Key performance and case examples include:

• Fluorescence screening of salicylic acid (3D spectra in seconds, LOQ in ppm)
• UV-Vis quantitation of detergent residues with r²=0.99998 (LOD/LOQ determination at 225 nm)
• GC-FID analysis of THC/CBD in hemp oil, complying with 0.3 % THC limit, and GC-VUV for isomer differentiation
• UHPLC-PDA separation of 16 cannabinoids in under 5 min with baseline resolution of Δ8/Δ9-THC, CBD and acidic forms
• SFC resolution of chiral amphetamine enantiomers with CO₂ mobile phase and high throughput
• GC-MS quantitation of cocaine on currency (ng levels, NIST/Wiley confirmation)
• LC-MS screening and confirmation of ten common drugs using in-source CID for fragmentation libraries
• FTIR-ATR identification of powders and tablets with high-throughput microscopy
• XRD phase identification of pharmaceutical compounds using PDF-4 Organics database

Benefits and Practical Applications

The integrated approach provides:

• Rapid, cost-effective screening to prioritize samples for confirmatory testing
• High selectivity and sensitivity for legal defensibility
• Broad coverage of drug classes and matrices
• Automated workflows and software libraries for traceability
• Reduced solvent consumption and environmental impact (SFC, UHPLC)

Future Trends and Opportunities

Emerging developments will enhance forensic drug analysis:

• High-resolution mass spectrometry for non-target screening
• Advanced data analytics and AI-driven spectral matching
• Micro- and portable instrumentation for field deployment
• Expanded spectral and structural libraries including novel psychoactive substances
• Integrated multi-technique platforms to streamline workflows

Conclusion

A tiered analytical scheme combining fluorescence, UV-Vis, chromatography, spectroscopy and diffraction meets stringent forensic standards. Shimadzu’s instruments deliver reliable identification and quantitation of controlled substances, supporting casework throughput and evidentiary requirements.

References

1. SWGDRUG: Scientific Working Group for the Analysis of Seized Drugs guidelines
2. OSAC: Organization for Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science
3. NIST 11 / Wiley 11th Edition Mass Spectral Library
4. ICDD PDF-4 Organics database
5. Designer Drugs MS Library and LC-MSn Library of Drugs, Poisons and Their Metabolites