News|Articles|September 23, 2026 (Updated: September 23, 2026)

LC-MS/MS Method Detects Propofol via Metabolite

Koji Yamaguchi of the International University of Health and Welfare (Narita, Japan) discusses a novel derivatized liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method plus propofol glucuronide (PRG) marker which improves forensic propofol detection.

Propofol is a fast-acting sedative commonly used to put patients under for surgery or to keep them sedated in intensive care. It works quickly and wears off quickly, too, which is part of why doctors like using it; patients go under fast and wake up fast once it's stopped. But it has a serious downside: it can cause dangerously low blood pressure and slowed or stopped breathing, and there have been real cases of healthcare workers accidentally dying after misusing it outside of a proper medical setting. Because of this, propofol is an important substance for forensic investigators to be able to detect and measure.

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