A Streamlined SALLE–LC–MS/MS Method for Rapid and Reliable Detection of Stimulants in Forensic Toxicology

A study conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Division of Forensic Sciences, (Decatur, Georgia) validated a salt-assisted liquid–liquid extraction (SALLE) with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method for detecting amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and cocaine metabolites in forensic toxicology. The method was tested on nine drugs, met all American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) 036 performance criteria, and demonstrated >80% recovery, minimal matrix effects (<20%), low LODs (5–25 µg/L), and sample stability for eight days. Applied to 150 real cases, results closely matched traditional GC-MS findings while reducing sample prep time by 67% and data-processing time by 80%, saving ~8 hours per batch. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation adopted the method, marking a major efficiency and reliability improvement in stimulant drug analysis. LCGC International spoke to Jon Stephenson of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Division of Forensic Sciences about the study and the resulting paper (1) inspired by it.