Comprehensive profiling of drugs of abuse in biological fluids by stir-bar sorptive extraction-thermal desorption-capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

This article presents a comprehensive approach to capillary GC-MS data handling and mapping of specific target analytes, illustrated with the detection of drugs of abuse in biological fluids. The word "comprehensive" is used here in sensu stricto, that is, including everything one wants to detect. Enrichment of the target solutes is performed by stir-bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) followed by thermal desorption-capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-CGC-MS) analysis. The high sensitivity that can be reached with the SBSE-TD-CGC-MS technique allows the use of MS in scan mode. The GC-MS data are plotted in a contour plot with locked retention times in the x-axis and ion traces in the y-axis. Target solutes are identified by a spot in specific positions in the plot and the colour of the spots is related to peak abundances. Semi-quantitative information can be readily obtained from the contour plots while precise quantification requires conventional calibration procedures. The graphical representation of CGC-MS data provides an easy way for non-skilled personnel in forensic and medical laboratories to confirm positive drugs-of-abuse samples.