Gamma hydroxybutyrate and CUQAX156

In the field of Forensic Toxicology, analysts are often asked to analyze for Gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) in cases where drug facilitated crimes may have occurred. With this in mind, UCT is proud to announce that a validated method has been published in the Journal of Chromatography B (879 (2011) 3752– 3758) using Clean-Up QAX SPE columns . This methodology, developed in collaboration with a major crime laboratory, employs UCT's CUQAX156 column to extract GHB from human urine. With the use of an anionic exchange sorbent, Dr. Jeff Hackett and Albert Elian were able to extract GHB from only 50 microliters of urine down a concentration of 50 nanograms per milliliter. The procedure, performed on LC-MS/MS, produced very low matrix effects (less than 6 percent). The samples extracted from the SPE are of the highest quality, allowing instruments to stay cleaner, longer and permitting many more analyses to be performed.

CHQAX and Bisphosphonates in Australia

Clinical toxicologists often face the challenge of working to quantify difficult and low concentration medications in human beings. Falling into this category is the series of compounds known as Bisphosphonates. These pharmaceuticals are prescribed to counter the effects of bone disorders. Bisphosphonates are known to be difficult to analyze due to their phoshonic acid functional groupings and high polar character. One of the main issues with working with these types of materials is to produce a clean extract for analysis by modern instrumentation such as LC-MS/MS.

In Australia, a team lead by Dr. Sussan Ghassabian, PharmD has recently reported a validated method for the analysis of Bisphosphonates in human plasma (Journal of Chromatography B ( November 2011)). This procedure employs UCT's CHQAX solid phase extraction sorbent. The QAX column (hydroxy counter ion) is part of a range of Clean Up Anion Exchange Sorbents manufactured to the highest technical quality which also includes CUNAX (a weak anion exchanger) and CUPAX (a very weak anion exchange sorbent). In the case of Dr. Ghassabian's analysis, the phosphonic acid were efficiently held by the CHQAX, while interfering compounds could be rinsed away, offering a much cleaner environment for elution, and further analysis of the medications via on column derivatization.

Clean Screen EtG paper

Forensic Toxicologists working in the area of drugs and driving cases are being challenged to meet stricter regulations. In a new paper authored by Ronald Agius et al (Forensic Science International, October 2011), the Clean Screen EtG column (CSETG203) has been successfully employed to meet these guidelines, specifically applied in Germany to drivers wishing to regain their licences. In this paper, Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG), the biomarker for ethyl alcohol consumption, was determined in urine samples down to 0.1 mg per L using only 600 microliters of sample. The method was applied to 78 real samples of urine in order to meet German authority regulations. In addition hair samples were also analyzed. 50 mg of sample was employed to test the method against the Society of Hair Testing (SoHT) criteria. The levels of detection of this method using the Clean Screen EtG column (2.8 pg/ mg) were met.

UCT attends the Gulf Coast Conference this week

At this years annual Gulf Coast Conference, Galveston Island, TX, being held October 11th -12th, UCT will be represented by Environmental Product Manager, Don Shelly, and by Regional Sales Team Member, Andrew Johansen. As this conference is dedicated to the analysis of environmental-type samples, UCT is honored to support facilities (Federal, State, and County) involved in this much valued aspect of protection for US citizens. Don and Andrew will be on hand throughout the conference to offer advice, help and assistance with UCT's world respected environmental products and methodologies. As the innovator of Quechers for Environmental Analysis, both Don and Andrew will be more than pleased to answer queries/requests on this subject along with those concerning SPE, and related equipment for which UCT is also well-known for. Please feel free to visit the UCT booth, and talk with our experts in the field of environmental analysis and testing.

Winners of the 2011 Excellence in SPE award

In what has become a much aniticipated tradition among the forensic toxicology community, UCT is to proud to announce the 2011 winners of the Excellence in SPE award. This award is presented by the CEO and President of UCT, Michael Telepchak, at the Elmer Gordon Forum during this years SOFT meeting. Being a joint meeting of SOFT and TIAFT this year, competition for this most coveted of award has been strongly contested. The awards committee at UCT has chosen 3 winners out of the many submissions who have shown outstanding results using SPE to further the development of forensic toxicology as an analytical science.

The first winner is Daniel Baker, IV of Franklin County Medical Examiners Office (Ohio) for his work on using SPE to extract weak acid/neutral drugs, bases including cocaine, and its metabolites by GC-MS in post mortem samples. Daniel is also presenting work at this years meeting on the subject of SPE extraction of opiates, a worthwhile winner indeed.

The 2nd winner is Dr. Matthew Juhascik, D-ABFT who investigated a novel compound (Benzoylecgonine Isopropyl Ester) in the analysis of cocaine metabolites in post mortem samples using a SPE methodology. Dr.Juhascik is based at UMass Memorial Hospital in Massachussetts.

Our 3rd winner hails from Australia. Nathan Sumner is receiving his award for his outstanding work in the extraction and analysis of the new "BathSalts " drugs i.e, the Cathinones such as methylone from biological samples. Nathan developed his SPE procedure for use with LC-MS/MS.

UCT would like to thank all the other authors for their SPE work, and would like to assure them that their work will be considered for next years meeting in Boston.

SOFT-TIAFT 2011 starts today

It is that time of year again for the annual SOFT meeting, this year being held in San Francisco, California. This year sees UCT unveiling 2 new and innovative products for use within the forensic community; the 96 well plate format positive pressure manifold, and Clean-Screen FASt (Filter and Shoot).

At this years meeting UCT's Dr. Jeff Hackett will be chairing the world famous UCT workshop on principles and applications of SPE in forensic toxicology along with Michael Telepchak and Dr. Michael Coyer. This workshop will also include presentations from an other forensic toxicolgist, Robert Sears. We will be presenting work submitted to UCT from users out in the field, this work includes the Analysis of GHB in urine (Albert Elian), Analysis of Opiates in post mortem blood (Daniel Baker), and from Dr. John Wyman a case involving MPDV fatality. UCT salutes these workers and hope that meeting attendees will visit the UCT booth and posters/presentations to learn why UCT is the premier SPE company, attendees can also enter the famous UCT grand draw which this year!

UCT at AOAC International 2011

At this years annual meeting of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) in New Orleans, UCT will be represented by our Environmental Products Manager, Don Shelly, and one of the International Sales Team, Hocine Omari. As UCT has a vast experience in the analyses performed by International/ National, State, and County environmental facilities, Don and Hocine will be on hand at the UCT booth to offer assistance with solid phase extraction, QuEChERS methods, and applications. Visitors to the booth will be able to learn more about the UCT products manufactured to the highest quality. These products will ensure that the best analyses can be performed. Better quality products means cleaner extracts which lead to clean chromatograms, better recoveries, and reproducibilities over a wide range of matrices and analytes.

UCT publishes "Magic Mushroom" study

This month UCT has published a procedure in collaboration with a major crime laboratory facility to extract, confirm, and quantify hallucinogenic compounds from "Magic Mushrooms" . In the article, which is also headlined on the front cover of the September 2011 issue of LC-GC (North America), Dr. Jeff Hackett and Albert Elian (Massaschussetts State Police Crime Laboratory) have succesfully employed UCT's flagship sorbent Clean Screen DAU to isolate and quantify the compounds Psilocybin and Psilocin from human urine using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry.

Currently forensic analysts who are requested to test samples of urine for these compounds have only been able to report psilocin data, but now using the Clean Screen DAU as described in the research article forensic toxicologists can now report the concentrations of both compounds, thus permitting a more precise interpretation to be made. This paper details the excellent analytical performance of the Clean Screen DAU in terms of recoveries and cleanliness of the extract as reflected in the low matrix effects which this sorbent is known for.

Did you know..

UCT Specialties PS200(Glassclad18) is a superior, easily applied, protective hydrophobic glass coating used in a wide variety of applications from fluorescent lights and bakeware to high end optical fibers. Performance properties include increased scratch resistance, lubricity and surface resistivity, decreased breakage, reduced hemolysis and protein adsorption. In addition it provides a non-wettable surface to improve drainage of laboratory glassware. Request your copy of our PS200 Brochure today.

Wang develops modified QuEChERS method for Bisphenol A in foods

Dr. Xiaoyan Wang, Research and Development Scientist at UCT, has developed a simple and effective QuEChERS approach for identifying and determining Bisphenol A concentrations in canned and jarred food and beverages. A summary of Dr. Wang's work and the resulting application can be read by clicking here.

Did you know...

that UCT SPECIALTIES manufactures silanes, silicones and platinum catalysts to the high standards your products deserve. We take the extra steps to insure that our products are the highest purity available at competitive prices and support this with exceptional customer service and on time delivery.

2 papers appearing in JAT Special SOFT/TIAFT issue

UCT is honored to have two outstanding papers included in the Special Issue of Journal of Analytical Toxicology (JAT).

Forensic toxicologists are always being challenged to extract, confirm and quantify drugs and poisons in post mortem samples. The September issue of JAT features a publication by Dr. Thomas Rosano, D-ABFT who employed the UCT flagship sorbent (Clean Screen DAU) to perform this analysis. In his paper "Postmortem Drug Screening by Non-Targeted and Targeted Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Technology" (JAT 35 (7) 411-23), Dr Rosano's team was able to analyze over 200 drugs on the Clean Screen DAU with excellent levels of efficiency. This developed methodology is indicative of the high quality of materials that the UCT is renowned for.

In a separate article, presented by Dr. James Watterson, D-ABFT and team, "Relative Distribution of Ketamine and Norketamine in Skeletal Tissues Following Various Periods of Decomposition" (JAT 35(7) 452-458), UCT's new and unique sorbent Clean Screen Xcel, was employed to extract, confirm, and quantify Ketamine and its metabolite from decomposing samples. It is common for toxicologists working in forensic laboratories to encounter such materials and this sorbent is shown to show excellent analytical characteristics

UCT at NEMC 2011 - August 15-19

As the world's premier SPE sorbent manufacturer, UCT Inc. is proud to announce its participation in the 2011 National Environmental Monitoring Conference (NEMC) held in Seattle WA. UCT will be represented by two outstanding members of the company, Don Shelly, Environmental Products Manager, and Bill Leavitt, Regional Sales Team Member. Don and Bill will be on hand all week to help, assist, and guide analysts with regard to products, applications and advice for enviromental analysis.

At this years meeting UCT will also be presenting 2 posters by Dr. Xiaoyan Wang, Environmental Specialist. The first study involves the highly efficient extraction of Haloacetic acids from water using GC-MS. This analysis employs UCT's speciality range of SPE cartridges as a robust alternative for facilities engaged in EPA method 552.1. UCT is always on the forefront of analytical methodologies in support of laboratories engaged in environmental analyses, and this application should be of great assistance them. The second of Dr. Wang's studies to be presented in poster format involves the extraction of pesticides, semi-volatiles, and PCB congeners using UCT's environmental range of cartridges to produce a methdology that is easily available to laboratories using standard GC-MS instrumentation.

False: conversion of Morphine to 6-MAM

Following reports in forensic-related media, regarding the conversion of Morphine (a commonly analyzed opiate in bio fluids by Crime Laboratories, Coroners, and Medical Examiners Facilities) to 6-Monoacetyl Morphine ( 6-MAM ), UCT Inc. is pleased to report that this issue does not occur in any of its products.

An independent Medical Examiner's Office recently carried out an experiment in which morphine (0.5 mg% to 5 mg% solutions) was heated (70 Deg C for 2 hours) in the presence of Acetylsalicylic acid (1mg% to 50 mg% solutions) in human urine. These experiments were carried out with and without ethyl alcohol being present. The internal standard employed in these studies was a deuterated analogue of 6-MAM. The samples were extracted using UCT's flagship sorbent Clean Screen DAU, after which they were derivatized to the Trimethylsilyl derivative and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The outcome was that 6-MAM was not found in any samples.

UCT is a hit at FPRW 2011

We would like to thank the 130 attendees who showed up for our lunch seminar, "Chemical Implications of QuEChERS" given by our president Michael J. Telepchak. We will see you all next year!

UCT invades FPRW 2011 showcasing QuEChERS in olive oil

UCT is proud to announce their participation at FPRW 2011, July 18-21st. The world renowned company will be represented by President and CEO Michael Telepchak, assisted by Don Shelly, Mike Kofel, and Dr. Xioayan Wang. Dr. Wang will be presenting outstanding research conducted using UCT's famous QuEChERS products for pesticides in olive oil. Her studies demonstrate the efficency of the UCT Quechers materials. UCT will also be delivering a lunch time seminar given by Michael Telepchak on the subject of Chemical Implications of QuEChERS. UCT is world known for its excellent technical and customer support in the field of QuEChERS, SPE methods and applications. Don Shelly, Mike Kofel and Dr. Wang will be on hand through out FPRW to answer any questions/queries related to QuEChERS or other environmental analyses.

Clean Screen® DAU used in decomposing porcine tissue drug study

Forensic Toxicologists are often challenged with analyzing drugs and pharmaceuticals in decomposed samples. The ability to not only identify these materials but offer quantitative results has been fraught with difficulties. In an article published in the Journal of Forensic Sciences -"The Temporal Fate of Drugs in Decomposing Porcine Tissue" *, the world renowned UCT Clean Screen DAU206 was employed, by a team lead by Dr. John Wyman D-ABFT, to extract a wide range of weak acid and basic drugs from decomposing porcine samples.

The data shows that this SPE column can be used in a very highly productive and efficient manner to extract, identify and quantify a diverse range of drugs in a variety of samples that commonly face the forensic toxicology community. This range of drugs included not only basic compounds (Amitriptyline/Methadone and Morphine), but weak acid/neutrals such as Diazepam and Carisoprodol. UCT has long been associated with the forensic community and has been supportive of it's needs; this article demonstrates the analytical excellence of the Clean Screen DAU column.

*Wyman, J "The Temporal Fate of Drugs in Decomposing Porcine Tissue" Journal of Forensic Sciences. Volume 56 p.690 (2011)

LAPRW 2011 in Uruguay

Come visit UCT at the 3rd annual Latin American Pesticide Residue Workshop (LAPRW 2011) in Montevideo Uruguay. The meeting runs from May 8th to the 11th. Our team of senior representatives will be on hand in Booth #5. Our company president Michael Telepchak will also be presenting "The Chemistry of Solid Phase Extraction" Tuesday May 10th in the Sala Florida Room at 6pm.

Clean Screen Posters at International Clarke Conference (London)

We are proud to announce the presentation of two posters at the prestigious International Clarke Conference (May 25th 2011). This conference is hosted by The Royal Pharmaceutical Society in London and is to be held in honor of the great tome in Forensic Toxicology first published by E C. Clarke. UCT has a long history in supporting the field of Forensic Toxicology over the last 25 years, and takes great pleasure in being associated with this meeting. This conference will be attended by forensic toxicologists from UK, Europe, and beyond.

The posters being presented represent collaborative work by Dr. Jeff Hackett and the staff of the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory. This work is based on the world famous Clean Screen® DAU SPE column. This SPE sorbent utilized in these posters was shown to be highly efficient in the extraction, purification, and analysis of Amphetamine (oral fluid) and Phenazepam (whole blood). The Clean Screen DAU can also be used to analyze illicit drugs, prescription medication, and over the counter pharmaceuticals from a variety of matrices such as urine, blood, and tissues by a variety of instrumental techniques (GC-MS, LC, and LC-MS/MS).

UCT announces extraction method for Spice (JWH-018 & JWH-073)

A group of new drugs is on the scene for forensic toxicologists to isolate, identify and quantify, the Spice drugs (JWH-018,073 etc). As recent studies have shown these drugs metabolize very quickly into their hydroxylated forms. Until very recently the choice of derivative for these compounds has been unclear. With resources from UCT, scientists have used MSTFA to derivatize the hydroxylated form of JWH-018. This compound can easily be used by simple heating and cooling prior to injection. The MSTFA derivative forms a compound which does not interfere with the parent, and can be resolved using a standard GC-MS instrument in EI mode. Chromatogram and mass spectra are shown here for illustrative purposes.

Here is our current method for extracting these compounds: Synthetic Cannabinoids LC-MS/MS and GC-MS using Clean Screen® THC Urine

UCT columns used in the analysis of tissue samples by Dr. Jenkins and Jahusic

Forensic Toxicologists have long struggled with the problem of analyzing drugs in tissue samples. In a paper published in Journal of Analytical Toxicology scientists at U Mass Memorial Hospital have shown how SPE can be used to solve this issue. Employing UCT's Clean Screen DAU SPE columns, the UMass team was able to show that successful analysis over a wide range of drugs can be performed on tissue homogenates in post-mortem cases. Clean Screen DAU columns are famously recognized for use in the isolation of drugs in urine and blood. This paper demonstrates their applicability to tissue specimens too.

Juhascik MP, Jenkins AJ "Comparison of tissue homogenate analytical results with and without standard addition" J.Anal. Toxicol. 35(3): 179-182 (2011)

UCT at SFTA conference in France

After last years success at Societe Francais Toxicologie (SFTA) conference, UCT's commitment to supporting our European colleagues remains at the forefront of our priorities. Dr. Jeff Hackett, will be attending this years conference in Chamonix, France, running from March 21st to the 26th. As a member of the UCT team, Dr. Hackett will be on hand to assist not only Forensic Toxicologists, but those scientists involved in Clinical and Veterinary branches of Toxicology. He will be available to discuss procedures involving UCT's Clean Screen and Styre Screen range of applications/ methodologies as well as derivatizing compounds.

UCT descends on Pittcon 2011

Visit UCT (Booth # 4120) as we celebrate our 25th anniversary at Pittcon in Atlanta, Ga from March 14 -17, 2011. We will be exhibiting our well-recognized solid phase extraction products. In addition, our environmental and agricultural testing products such as QuEChERS and universal sample prep cartridges used for extracting pollutants from waste and drinking water following EPA methodologies such as 1664A, 525, 521, 8330 and 548.1 will be on display.

New Paper Employing UCT XtrackT Range

In a paper published in the Forensic Science International (Irvine et al (2011)), forensic scientists in Australia studied the presence of several illicit drugs in sewage around the city of Adelaide and 10 other areas in South Australia. To extract and analyze these drugs, this group of analysts used UCT's SPE column (XtrackT® (XRDAH)) with mixed mode sorbent.

This sorbent was first developed by UCT for use in the analysis of horse urine, where sample viscosity is often an issue. The sorbent is now being employed to efficiently isolate and produce highly purified extracts from an environmental medium. This study demonstrates UCT's commitment to producing the best quality materials for the forensic, environmental and analytical communities in the United States and across the world.

UCT attending Arablab - March 7-10

Stop by and visit us at Arablab 2011. We will be attending with our partner, Dar Al Zaharwi, and lending support to all customers. We will be at Booth 729 - feel free to come by and ask some questions.

New Ethyl Glucuronide Paper from UCT Award Winner

Dr. Robert Kronstrand has recently published a paper on the analysis of ethyl glucuronide (EtG) in hair. This study was performed on UCT's Clean Screen EtG SPE column. The project involved following a group of participants for a period of 3 months, analyzing hair samples for ETG. UCT proudly awarded Robert the Excellence in SPE award last October at the annual SOFT meeting for his work in this area. This paper can be found in full format in Forensic Science International.

Robert's study demonstrates the strength and efficiency of the EtG column, and UCT's premier quality SPE materials which include Clean Screen range of columns (CSDAU and CSTHC), as well as derivatizing agents and gc liners for analysts using GC-MS, and HPLC columns for analysts employing LC-MSMS in forensic analysis

UCT in Chicago for AAFS 2011

At this years annual meeting of AAFS in Chicago, Illinois, Dr. Jeff Hackett, Fellow of AAFS, will be presenting a talk about the extraction of Psilocybin and Psilocin from mushrooms. This work by UCT in collaboration with a state crime facility is based on the Clean Screen DAU solid phase extraction column and will greatly enhance the productivity and efficiency of Controlled Drugs Analysts in forensic institutions world wide. The use of CSDAU columns has already been proven to be the most effective solid phase cartridge across a wide range of drugs and poisons as exemplified by the Forensic Toxicology community,now another valuable group of analysts can gain the benefits of the Clean Screen sorbents from UCT.

The meeting takes place February 21-26.

Dioxin scare in European chickens

As news of the contamination of chickens in Europe by Dioxins reaches the US – UCT, who is world renowned for food contamination testing, is ready to help supply laboratories at every level through our experienced team of distributors. World class scientific and technical support is aslo available from expert scientists at UCT headquarters in the United States to help with methods, applications and materials for Dioxin Analysis and Testing.

Poster from SOFT using CSDAU on a wide range of drugs

Presented at last year’s SOFT meeting (Richmond, VA) was a poster: Reduce Your Backlog: Adopt a Single Solid Phase Extraction Approach to Detect and Quantify Basic, Acidic/Neutral, Sympathomometic Amines, and Cocaine/Metabolites using Mini-Bore Fast GC/MS by Daniel D Baker IV, Franklin County Coroners Laboratory Ohio, that demonstrates the power and versatility of UCT's world renowned CSDAU SPE column. Daniel showed that this sorbent is a valuable tool in maximizing efficiency and productivity in Coroners and Medical Examiner’s laboratories. In extracting a wide and diverse range of drugs (including 12 amphetamine type, 68 basic and 12 weak acid neutrals) from post mortem blood (1 mL), Daniel demonstrated how 1 single column can reduce difficulties encountered worldwide by Forensic Toxicologists involved in this area of analysis.