The 32nd Annual Midwest Section of AOAC INTERNATIONAL

Meeting and Exposition will be taking place the week of June 3rd at the Wisconsin Dells, WI.  Technical specialist Don Shelly will be presenting a workshop, “The Chemistry of SPE”.  This will be a very instructive presentation covering the foundational principles and mechanisms of solid-phase extraction.  Pathways for developing a proper extraction and extract clean-up procedure will be discussed.  And of course, every audience member will walk away knowing what number is the most important number to remember when planning an SPE extraction!

Come join us for an exciting meeting in the heart of Wisconsin at the town dubbed the ‘Waterpark capital of America’

Clean Screen® THC in International Cannabis Psychomotor Study

For the practitioners of forensic toxicology, the analysis of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its metabolites is one of most requested tests around the world in drugs and driving related cases. By evaluating the concentrations of THC, its hydroxy and carboxy metabolites in samples of whole blood, the toxicologist is in the best position to offer medical examiners/coroners and enforcement agencies the most appropriate interpretation regarding the impairment of the operators of motor vehicles.

In an article published by Wendy M. Bosker and, Erin L. Karschner et al in PLOS ONE ( January 2013, 8(1): e53127), a team from the prestigious National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA, Baltimore MD)/ Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands studied the psychomotor functions of chronic daily cannabis users in abstinence. In this study, samples of blood, as well as oral fluid, were taken over a period of 23 days. The blood samples were treated so as to produce the plasma and were stored until analyzed. During the period of the study several psychomotor tests were performed upon the participants. By correlating the plasma cannabinoid concentrations with the psychomotor results, this team was able to understand the nature of cannabinoid impairment. UCT's SPE columns were employed to provide analytical results which were both reproducible and clean.

Clean Screen THC SPE and NIDA study into THC Tolerance

In the area of forensic toxicology, the effect of drugs such as Cannabis on the psychomotor skills of humans is a question faced by many testifying analysts. In order to offer an interpretation, analysts rely not only on their own findings, but on data obtained and published from sources of the highest integrity. The toxicology laboratories at NIDA (The National Institute on Drug Abuse) are acclaimed as one of the worlds centers of excellence when it comes to the study of THC and its metabolites and human performance. At NIDA, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, analysts employed UCT Inc. Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) columns for extracting THC and the related metabolites (THC-OH, and THC-COOH) from plasma samples.

This was demonstrated in a recently published report "Tolerance to Effects of High-Dose Oral D9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Plasma Cannabinoid Concentrations in Male Daily Cannabis Smokers" in Journal of Analytical Toxicology by David A.Gorelick et al (from the team of Dr. Marilyn Huestis). This group used UCTs ZSTHC020 SPE column to study the plasma concentrations of these compounds after high dose ingestions. The Clean Screen THC sorbent has also been employed by many forensic toxicology laboratories around the globe when clean extractions, high recoveries and high reproducibility are desired.

Gulf Coast Conference, Galveston, TX, October 16-17 2012

The Gulf Coast Conference is a non-profit organization oriented toward the education and advancement of knowledge of Chemical Analysis Technology associated with the Petrochemical, Refining, and Environmental fields, and will forward this goal through annual technical meetings, regular communications, and training courses focused on these fields.

On Tuesday, October 16th, UCT's Don Shelly will be giving a workshop titled, "The Chemistry of Solid Phase Extraction or Is that all there is to it?", at the Gulf Coast Conference (GCC). This workshop will cover the basics of solid phase extraction including normal(HILIC)phase, reverse phase, ion exchange and mixed mode mechanisms. The topics will be presented in simple terms and will also cover methodologies and troubleshooting. Workshop Presentation - 90 minutes Abstract # 003 Tuesday - 10:45 AM - Ivy II.

UCT exhibits at SAT Fall Meeting, Norman, OK, October 4th- 6th, 2012

UCT always proudly supports regional meetings for Forensic Toxicologists.   At this years Fall meeting of the Southwestern Association of Toxicologists (SAT) held in Norman, OK, UCT will be represented by Andrew Johansen. Andrew will be on hand throughout the meeting to discuss UCT methods, applications and products for use in the field of Forensic Toxicology.  UCT is recognized for developing one of the first SPE methodologies for use with Spice Drugs and metabolites in blood and urine.  Methods for analysis of bathsalts are also available.  Please visit Andrew at the UCT booth to learn more about Clean Screen, Xcel and FASt range of technologies as well as our derivatizing reagents and manifolds for sample preparation.

UCT Presentation at STFA Congres (Chambery, France, September 18-21)

UCT is well known and highly regarded around the world for its experience in producing the finest Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) sorbents for the Forensic/Clinical Toxicology and Environmental communities, as well as our line of Petrarch Chemicals (including dertivatizing reagents). In the field of Forensic Toxicology, there is no finer performing SPE column than UCT's flag ship sorbent Clean Screen DAU for the extraction of a diverse range of forensically significant drugs from a wide variety of biological matrices.

At this years Annual Congres of the Societe Francais Toxicologique et Analytique (SFTA) held in Chambery, France, UCT scientist Dr.Jeff Hackett will be presenting some recent research involving the extraction and analysis of Amphetamines (Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, MDA, MDMA) from Hair samples. The research (carried out in collaboration with a major State Crime Laboratory) demonstrates the ability to produce highly reproducible samples, with high recovery values and low matrix effects (at very low concentrations) using small amounts of sample (approx. 10 mg). The use of the Clean Screen DAU in this analysis shows why this is the first choice SPE sorbent for analysts in facilities around the world for drug testing.

UCT at Alabama State Association of Forensic Sciences (August 7-10 2012)

UCT has always been proud to support the Forensic Sciences community and has done so for over 25 years as the world's premier SPE sorbent manufacturer. UCT often  lends its support to the Forensic Scientists in local regions and this year UCT will be attending the annual meeting of the Alabama State Association of Forensic Sciences held at Orange Beach, AL ( August 7-10 2012).  Our local sales representative will be on hand throughout the conference to answer questions and queries regarding Solid Phase Extraction, applications, and methods that will increase productivity and reduce turnaround times in Forensic Toxicology Laboratories. Please visit the UCT booth and learn how we can assist in making your laboratory more efficient.

Highlights from SOFT 2012

At this years meeting of the Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT) in Boston USA, UCT SPE products were shown for their high quality and efficiency over a wide range of projects. In a presentation given by Caroline Betit (Laurentian University Ontario,Canada), UCT Clean Screen DAU (CSDAU) was demonstrated in the extraction andanalysis of Pentobarbital in decomposed bone samples using GC-MS. Decomposed samples are always difficult for forensic toxicologists to analyze, and a veryclean extract (as produced by the Clean Screen DAU) is valuable in not only identifying drugs but also in quantifying the results.

The analysis of THC and its metabolites is a subject close to the heart of many forensic toxicologists charged with testing samples and interpreting the results, it is very important that samples can be extracted with high efficiency and reproducibility. In a presentation given by Dr. Gary Milman (NIDA, Baltimore, USA), UCT's StyreScreen THC (SSTHC) was shown to fill the need of high efficiency and reproducibility when analyzing samples of not only smoked cannabis but also synthetic cannabis in a clinical study at NIDA. The SSTHC was able to extract Dronabinol as well as THC, THC-OH, and Carboxy-THC from plasma samples using 2dimensional GC-MS.

In the area of post mortem toxicology, the Clean Screen DAU is world renowned for itsability to extract a wide and diverse range of compounds. Among this widerange, the Opiate class of drugs is no stranger to forensic toxicologists, in two presentations from Cuyahoga County Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (Ohio, USA), Claire Kaspar showed how the CSDAU could be used in the analysis of opiates especially heroin in post mortem cases. Her analysis centered on the determination of opiates in brain tissues as well as post mortem blood samples. The presentations showed off the power of the CSDAU in producing very clean extracts from very difficult matrices  In an independent  study undertaken by the Orange County Crime Laboratory (California, USA), Dani Mata demonstrated that the CSDAU in an automated setting can be used to combine 4 separate opiate analyses into 1 single procedure which not only increases productivity, but also efficiency in terms of instrumental time.  The presentation also showed the power of Solid Phase Extraction over Liquid-Liquid Extraction in the toxicology laboratory.

UCT SPE Award winners 2012

The much anticipated and highly sought after UCT Award for Excellence in SPE is to be presented this year at the SOFT 2012 meeting in Boston, MA. UCT would like to thank all those who submitted entrees. This years winners have been chosen after much deliberation and discussion among the members of UCT selection committee.

This years first award winner is Dr. Thomas G. Rosano, D-ABFT(Albany Medical Center, NY).  This work developed the use of SPE into the medical examiner setting, where a comprehensive drug screening is an essential analytical tool in the investigation of cause and manner of death.  Dr. Rosano and his team have validated non-targeted and targeted screening assays for drugs and metabolites using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) interfaced with mass spectrometry (MS) in single and tandem stages. For non-targeted screening by UPLC-MS electrospray interface, in-source fragmentation was used along with MS scanning (m/z 80-650) and library search for over 700 drug and metabolite analytes.  Th second award winner is Ms. Cynthia Burbach, MS, Colorado Dept. of Health & Environment, Denver. Ms Burbach's project submission was on the Validation of THC and metabolites in Whole Blood using SPE and LC-MS/MS. In this methodology, THC and it's hyrdroxy and carboxy metabolites were extracted using SPE and analyzed via LC-MS/MS. The SPE method was valid to sub 1 ng/ mL LOD/LOQ with high recoveries and minimal matrix effects. This method is now on the laboratory's book tests for over 40 samples per day. UCT's third award winner was the submission presented by Robert Sears, MS ( The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division). In this submission, a routine method for the analysis of 13 of the most popular Synthetic Cannabinoids in Whole Blood using SPE was validated. This method takes advantage of the high efficiency/ productivity of SPE to produce a method that can be used in a legal-judical system.

UCT salutes this years winners who will be presented with their awards during the SOFT meeting.

Clean Screen DAU Success in Mummified Body Drug Testing

One of the most difficult sample analysis for Forensic Toxicologists consist of decomposed tissue samples. This is because fatty materials produced by the decomposition process cause issues for instruments due to their solubility in organic solvents. This issue can easily be over overcome by the use of high quality Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) sorbents.

This is the case recently reported in the Journal of Forensic Sciences by Dr. Mario Giusiani and his team ( Department of Neurosciences, University of Pisa, Italy) who analyzed samples from body that had be missing for over 10 years. Samples of tissue were extracted using UCT's flagship sorbent Clean Screen DAU (ZSDAU020).  The team not only identified but also quantified the concentrations of Phenobarbital using GC-MS (without derivatization) in post mortem samples of liver, heart, lung, muscle and skin. This case demonstrates why Clean Screen DAU is the most popular SPE extraction column due to its unmatched analytical performance.

UCT Presents work at TIAFT 2012 (June 3- 8th 2012)

As an active supporter of forensic endeavors around the world, UCT is proud to announce the presentation of research at this years annual meeting of The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists  (TIAFT). This years meeting is being held in the city of Hamamatsu (Japan) and brings together the worlds best toxicologists to discuss new developments in the area of forensic toxicology. UCT is known around the globe for its SPE sorbents and methodologies for assisting analysts extract, confirm and quantify drugs in various types of matrices.

The work being presented at TIAFT2012 involves the analysis of amphetamine type drugs (Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, MDA, amd MDMA) in small samples of hair (10 mg). The extraction was performed (after base digestion of samples) using UCT's flagship sorbent Clean Screen DAU (CSDAU206). Not only was the sorbent able to isolate the drugs, but the highly purified extract when tested by LC-MS/MS showed minimal matrix effects (<6%) and high recoveries (>95%) showing why this sorbent is highly recognised around the world as the market leader in forensic and clinical toxicological analyses for not only the amphetamine drugs but a wide and diverse range of drugs, poisons, and other medications often faced by analysts in these facilities.  

Analysis of Beta Agonist (Ractopamine) by Clean Screen® DAU

UCT is aware of the need for scientists around the globe to monitor the safety of the food we eat. In light of this, UCT has always produced sorbents of the highest quality and efficiency for over 25 years. The flagship of these sorbents is the Clean Screen® DAU, which is the most popular SPE product on the market for extracting drugs from biological fluids and tissues, in both human and animal.

This efficiency for extracting Ractopamine from animal tissue has recently been reported (J. Chromatography B (e-published March 2012)) by Dr. Ana Vulic (Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb) and the staff of the Institute. In this report Dr. Vulic's team analyzed the retina's of food producing pigs that had been dosed with low level concentrations of the drug and compared the levels with non dosed animals. It was found that in using Clean Screen DAU quantitative measurements of ractopamine were able to be made using a LC-MS/MS technique. The team was able to recover over 95% of the drug from the matrix with minimal matrix effects. This is another clear demonstration of the power of this sorbent when employed in the area of drug extraction and isolation.

QuICK QuEChERS

UCT’s QuICK QuEChERS cartridge ECPURMPSMC offers a fast and efficient method for QuEChERS extract clean-up. Processing is simple and saves the need for any shaking or centrifugation steps. To use, a disposable syringe in loaded with supernatant and a QuICK QuEChERS cartridge is fitted on the end using the Luer tip. The supernatant is pushed through the cartridge directly into a sample vial; the sample is now ready for GC or LC analysis. The QuICK QuEChERS cartridge significantly reduces handling while increasing laboratory through-put. Each UCT QuICK QuEChERS cartridge contains 110 mg anhydrous MgSO4 and 180 mg of PSA.

In comparative studies with traditional dispersive SPE, QuICK QuEChERS showed excellent recovery and RSD. Click to see results.

Five facts about UCT solid phase extraction

1. UCT is a leading supplier of SPE products for more than 25 years. We have never had a need to resort to false marketing gimmicks because we are always focused producing high quality sample extracts for the bench side analysts.

2. UCT SPE columns are packed into medical grade polypropylene, so analysts will not see organic leachates such as BPA, phthalates, or other persistent organic pollutants.

3. UCT SPE products don't suffer the effects of channeling because we patented the ribbing at the base of the SPE column which ensures the best flow dynamics for SPE.

4. UCT columns are not affected by variation in bed mass because our tubes are packed automatically with state of the art machines which are controlled with highly engineered precision.

5. UCT invented the co-polymeric process of bonding hydrophobic and ionic exchange groups onto a single silica bead, thus analysts can be confident they are using the very best in SPE technology.

Analysis of Cocaine in Post Mortem Samples Using Clean Screen DAU SPE

Post mortem samples present the toxicologist with more challenges than most samples seen in forensic laboratories. The condition and volumes of the matrix can add to difficulties to be overcome. UCT is keenly aware of these issues, and for more than 25 years has offered forensic toxicology analysts the best solution with the well-known Clean Screen DAU Solid Phase Extraction column. This SPE material is unsurpassed, not only in its range of analytes, but in its efficiency in isolating from a wide variety of post mortem matrices. In the recent issue of Journal of Analytical Toxicology (March 2012, pp 141-143) Dr. Juhascik (UMass Memorial Hospital, MA) and his team report the finding of a isopropyl artifact in post mortem samples. The samples were comprehensively and completely analyzed for the presence of cocaine and metabolites. This work follows Dr. Juhascik's work comparing the efficiencies of liquid-liquid extraction vs SPE (Journal of Analytical Toxicology (2009 , 47, 553-557) where they determined that SPE (using Clean Screen DAU) far exceeded the liquid-liquid extraction in performance and efficiency.

EtG Detection in Fingernails using CUQAX12Z

Over the past decade the use of hair specimens for the long-term detection of the alcohol biomarker ethyl glucuronide has been increasing in popularity. In a paper by Dr. Joseph Jones and his team at the United States Drug Testing Laboratory (Des Plaines Il), they evaluated the usefulness of fingernail clippings as a suitable alternative to hair for ethyl glucuronide detection (American Journal of Analytical Chemistry (e-published January 2012)). A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the detection of ethyl glucuronide in fingernail clippings was fully validated and used to analyze the hair and/or fingernail specimens of 606 college-aged study participants. The limit of detection was 2 pg/mg, the limit of quantitation was 8 pg/mg and the method was linear from 8 to 2000 pg/mg, which is a clear demonstration of the efficiency of the SPE method which was performed using UCT’s Clean-up CUQAX12Z SPE columns. This group showed that as alternative matrices go, fingernail clippings can be just as useful as hair samples, and that UCT’s SPE can be employed no matter what the matrix is. Dr. Jones reports that ethyl glucuronide levels in fingernails were higher than ethyl glucuronide levels in hair. The study results demonstrated that fingernail may be a suitable alternative to hair for ethyl glucuronide detection and may be the preferred sample type due to the lack of a gender bias.

Don Shelly to speak on Food and Environmental issues

UCT's Food and Environmental specialist, Don Shelly, will be presenting at the Orange County Water District (OCWD) workshop in Fountain Valley, California on February 8, 2012. Topics will include The Chemistry behind Solid Phase Extraction with an emphasis on current drinking water methods and Enviro-Clean: Products Designed to Save You Time and Reduce Costs. Please contact Don at ext. 219 or Bill Leavitt at ext. 184 for more details.

Phenazepam and UCT CSDAU206

In recent months Phenazepam, a drug originally precribed for the Russian market, has become very popular for off-label uses in the United Kingdom, United States and Australia. Phenazepam is prescribed for the reduction of anxiety but has now been found in blood and urine samples of drivers stopped by enforcement agencies in traffic cases in these countries. In the most recent issue of LC-GC magazine (December 2011), a validated method for the analysis of Phenazepam in whole blood has been published. UCT scientist Dr. Jeff Hackett, working with analysts at the Massachussets State Police Crime Laboratory have developed a sensitive and higly efficient method for this analysis using UCT's flagship sorbent Clean Screen (CSDAU206). In this procedure whole blood samples were extracted and analyzed down to concentrations less than 1 ng per mL of whole blood. The samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry where the clean extracts were shown to have minimal matrix effects (less than 6% overall). The recoveries of the drug from whole blood using CSDAU206 SPE columns were found to be greater than 90%. These excellent analytical characteristics demonstrate why UCT is the premier manufacturer in SPE and our Clean Screen SPE columns are the best sorbents for the extraction of drugs in biological fluids.

Innovative ethyl glucuronide study on camels

UCT would like to offer congratulations to Dr. I.Wasfi of the Camel Racing Laboratory, part of the Forensic Science Facility in Abu Dhabi. Dr Wasfi has just published an innovative study on the pharmacokinetics of Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG) in the camel (Vet. J. July 2010). In the middle east, the camel is an important part of animal racing family along with horses. UCT has a long, established history in the support of racing animal testing facilities around the world. This study employs the world reknowned UCT EtG SPE column. Although this SPE sorbent is much more well known for hair ETG analysis, this study shows its effectiveness in the area of blood analysis.
Further details of this SPE column can be found on the website: www.unitedchem.com or calling 1-800-385-3153.

Environmental Metals paper posted in Applications Finder

Our Enviromental team has released a new "Topic in Solid Phase Extraction" paper. This paper covers Metals Analysis of the following metal ions: Zinc, Arsenic, Tin, Selenous, Mercury, Chromium, Copper and Platinum.

You can find it by searching "Metals" under the Compounds heading in the Applications Finder on the main site.