Quantitation of Seven Designer Cathinones in Urine Using Q Exactive Mass Spectrometer

This study aimed to develop an HPLC-MS method for the forensic toxicological analysis of the three Schedule I cathinones: MDPV, methylone and mephedrone, as well as other substituted cathinones: methedrone, ethylone, butylone and naphyrone in urine with limits of quantitation (LOQs) of 0.5 ng/mL. Liquid/liquid extraction followed by HPLC/MS/MS analysis on a Thermo Scientific™ Q Exactive™ benchtop Orbitrap mass spectrometer was performed.