METHOD OF DETECTING UNKNOWN SUBSTANCES IN BODY FLUIDS OF PATIENTS TAKING NARCOTIC OR PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES Russian patent published in 2011 - IPC G01N30/02 

FIELD: chemistry.

SUBSTANCE: disclosed is a method of detecting unknown substances in body fluids of patients taking narcotic or psychoactive substances. The method involves preparation of three body fluid samples - the first through extraction with re-solution, the second through acid hydrolysis and the third through enzymatic hydrolysis. The first sample undergoes GC/MS analysis at temperature gradient of 15°C/min and data are analysed by comparing with a data base from which features of the unknown substance are detected, specifically spectra with m/z values which coincide with basic ions of the narcotic or psychoactive substance or metabolites and content of the unknown substance in the sample. The second sample undergoes GC/MS analysis at temperature gradient of 25°C/min and the third sample undergoes GC/MS analysis also at temperature gradient of 15°C/min and, if content of the unknown substances in the last two samples is higher than the in the first, the narcotic or psychoactive substance undergoes GC/MS analysis for presence of the unknown substance also at temperature gradient of 15°C/min, and if also not present in the basic substance. Presence of the unknown substance in intact body fluid is also checked, for which a sample of the intact body fluid is prepared via acid hydrolysis and undergoes GC/MS analysis at temperature gradient of 15°C/min and 25°C/min, and if the unknown substance is detected in the intact body fluid, the substance is classified as endogenous, and in the absence of features, an aliquot of the first sample is mixed with the sample of intact body fluid. The sample is prepared via acid hydrolysis of the mixture. The sample undergoes GC/MS analysis at temperature gradient of 15°C/min and 25°C/min. Further, content of the unknown substance is determined from results of both analysis modes and then compared with content of the known substance in the first sample. If content values of the unknown substance in the said three samples coincide, the unknown substance is classified as a new, previously unknown product of metabolism of the basic narcotic or psychoactive substance.

EFFECT: possibility of unique identification of chemical compounds and their fragments in arbitrary combinations while increasing accuracy and rapidness of detection.

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