Drug Screening and Confirmation Workflows

Streamline your drug screening and confirmation workflow

Toxicology testing needs vary widely—from the smallest, local drug treatment courts to the largest, fully equipped reference laboratories—each situation is unique and demands the best tools that fit your budget.

Explore our workflows and contact us to discuss the optimum solution.

Targeted and untargeted toxicology assay

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LC-MS methods and workflows

Whether your lab is screening for over 2,000 target analytes or focusing on the confirmation and quantitation of 100 specific drugs, we offer tailored workflow solutions to meet your needs. Our comprehensive methods are designed to handle a wide range of analyte numbers and sample matrices with precision and efficiency.

Key to successful confirmation is the use of robust, sensitive instruments that minimize downtime and reliably detect low levels of analytes. Our LC-MS systems are engineered to deliver high performance and accuracy, ensuring confidence in your analytical results. Explore our methods and workflows to find the perfect solution for your laboratory's analytical challenges.

Tox Explorer Collection method and workflow

Screen, identify, confirm and quantitate with one instrument

The Thermo Scientific Tox Explorer Collection offers an all-in-one workflow that combines efficient liquid chromatography with highly respected high-resolution, accurate-mass (HRAM) mass spectrometry or triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. With over 1,800 analytes in the Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris 120 compound database and 1,200 analytes in the Thermo Scientific TSQ Quantis Plus compound database, the Tox Explorer Collection provides robust, reliable, and easy-to-implement workflows for toxicology laboratories. This method includes a ready-to-go library and compound database for a plug-and-play approach.

Sample preparation

Separation

MS analysis

Data processing

The Tox Explorer method offers sample prep recommendations based on biological matrix

Thermo Scientific Vanquish Flex UHPLC System / Thermo Scientific Accucore Phenyl Hexyl HPLC columns

Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris 120 Mass Spectrometer or Thermo Scientific TSQ Quantis Plus Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer

Library and compound database with Thermo Scientific TraceFinder Software

Technical note: Tox Explorer – TSQ Quantis Plus

Unknown analysis: Simultaneous Quantification and Discovery (SQUAD)

When looking for the unknown, novel psychoactive substances (NPS), or anything that could be in your sample, we recommend an untargeted approach using our Tox Explorer method on the Orbitrap Exploris 120 Mass Spectrometer and Thermo Scientific Compound Discoverer Software. This approach enables the user to process all the unknown data and match to many libraries/databases. Compound Discoverer is powered by mzCloud, mzVault, and mzLogic and has many tools to analyze compound classes, molecular networking, and fine isotopic structure.

Separation

MS analysis

Data processing

Vanquish Flex UHPLC System /
Phenyl Hexyl column

Orbitrap Exploris 120 Mass Spectrometer

Compound Discoverer Software

Drugs of abuse method and workflow

For labs that need a fast method and want to test drugs of many drug types, we have a solution. This quantitative 7-minute method was developed around 106 of the most tested drugs of abuse which includes drugs from a wide variety of drug classes and both positive and negative polarities. This 7-minute method produces a wide dynamic range and sensitivity to achieve low LOQs. This method includes a complete workflow using SOLAµ SCX SPE Plates.

Sample preparation

Separation

MS analysis

Data processing

Thermo Scientific SOLAµ SPE Plates

Vanquish Flex UHPLC System / Accucore C18+ Column

Oribitrap Exploris 120 Mass Spectrometer or TSQ Quantis Plus Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer

Library and compound database with TraceFinder Software

Technical Note: Drugs of Abuse Method – TSQ Quantis Plus

Direct Ionization workflow

VeriSpray PaperSpray

Analytical testing laboratories face ongoing challenges, such as sample backlogs, increasing per-sample costs, limited availability of skilled technicians, and maintenance-related downtime for chromatography systems. Thermo Scientific VeriSpray PaperSpray Ion Source offers a solution to each of these concerns. When combined with the TSQ Quantis Plus Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer, laboratories can save both time and money due to the fast acquisition times (<2 minutes), minimal solvent consumption, and direct analysis of the sample with little to no sample preparation.

Sample spotting

MS analysis

Data processing

Pipette sample on Thermo Scientific VeriSpray Sample Plates

VeriSpray on Thermo Scientific TSQ Fortis Plus Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer, TSQ Quantis Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer, or TSQ Altis Plus Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer

Library and compound database with TraceFinder Software

Technical Note: Quantitation of Drugs of Abuse in Urine - VeriSpray

Screening workflow for chemistry analyzers

Automated drug testing using an immunoassay analyzer integrates all steps involved in monitoring participants for drug use—from scheduling a test, tracking chain of custody, barcoding specimens, testing the specimen for drugs, to reporting test results electronically. Test results may be printed or securely shared via encrypted email to designated recipients such as probation officers, coordinators, and other personnel or agencies.

Such an easy and secure sharing process reduces or eliminates the need for storing paper copies of participant’s test results and manually recording the data. Storing data electronically also facilitates easy tracking and retrieval of participant results and historical drug usage. Bench top chemistry analyzers are an affordable way for criminal justice treatment courts and small to mid-size laboratories to conduct drug screening.