2026 · Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry · paywalled
Characterisation of the designer cathinone N-isopropylbutylone by a multi-technique approach and its metabolic profiling and stability assessment using dried matrix spots
Odoardi et al.
The finding, in our words
Dried blood spots and dried urine spots preserved synthetic cathinone analytes for 90 days at room temperature, with most metabolites remaining detectable throughout. This confirms dried matrix spot stability for remote toxicology applications, supporting their use in decentralised drug monitoring and screening programmes.
A paraphrase to the Library’s standard, never the abstract. The source is one link away and is always the authority.
This review highlights that microsampling techniques such as dried blood spots and volumetric absorptive microsampling offer superior alternatives to traditional sampling for the mass spectrometry detection of prohibited substances in anti-doping analysis. It provides guidance on selecting appropriate analytical methods and sample pretreatment strategies to ensure sensitive detection and reliable storage conditions.
The authors found that a single microdose of recombinant EPO was detectable up to 72 hours using ITP and CP methods, though the Tasso microsampling device showed lower sensitivity than Mitra and Capitainer. Additionally, isotope ratio mass spectrometry successfully detected testosterone micro-dosing in all analysed samples, supported by serum testosterone levels.
The analysis indicates that dried blood spots and volumetric absorptive microsampling enable minimally invasive monitoring of prohibited substances, with volumetric absorptive microsampling offering improved quantitative reliability over traditional dried spots.
A post-mortem case study found that Mitra microsampling devices achieved comparable qualitative toxicological detection to conventional methods across blood, urine, bile, and vitreous humour, successfully identifying methamphetamine, opioids, and alpha-PHP. Whilst limited to a single case, this shows that microsampling is a viable alternative for qualitative screening when sample volumes are restricted.
The study found that self-collection of dried blood spots and other samples using at-home kits was a useful and cost-effective method for screening a large cohort for sexually transmitted infections outside a clinic. This demonstrates the feasibility of decentralised, patient-centric sampling for population-level infectious disease surveillance.