6430 triple quadruple mass spectrometer

Participants recruited to the additional study on the biochemical markers of health behaviour provided a hair sample (3 cm long) that was liquefied and analysed for biochemical markers of various health behaviours related to alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and recreational drug use. Following extraction procedures, markers of alcohol (fatty acid ethyl esters [FAEE]) and cigarettes (nicotine, cotinine) were quantified using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection (LC-MS/MS). In addition, evidence for recreational drug use was detected by screening for commonly used drugs and their metabolites. These included: amphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA), ephedrine, mephedrone, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cocaine, heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), phencyclidine (PCP) and ketamine. Morphine, codeine, hydromorphone and hydrocodone were treated separately owing to their potential medical use (i.e., as a pain reliever or cough suppressant). A 6430 triple quadruple mass spectrometer (made by Agilent Technologies UK) was employed with a dynamic-multiple reaction monitoring-liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (DYN-MRM-LC-MS/MS) method. Participants recruited to this additional study also had their height and weight measured to calculate an objective measure of BMI.

Hair samples (3 cm long) were liquefied and analyzed for biochemical markers of alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and recreational drug use. Following extraction procedures, markers of alcohol (fatty acid ethyl esters) and cigarettes (nicotine, cotinine) were quantified using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection. In addition, evidence for recreational drug use was detected by screening for commonly used drugs and their metabolites. These included: amphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine, ephedrine, mephedrone, tetrahydrocannabinol, cocaine, heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide, phencyclidine and ketamine. Morphine, codeine, hydromorphone and hydrocodone were treated separately owing to their potential medical use (i.e., as a pain reliever or cough suppressant). A 6430 triple quadruple mass spectrometer (Agilent Technologies UK) was employed, with a dynamic-multiple reaction monitoring-liquid chromatography mass spectrometry method.