Each hair sample is catalogued in a computer database system. Then, hair samples are stored in complete darkness at room temperature.

When we are ready to test the hair sample, we cut the strands into smaller pieces and incubate the hair in solvent to extract the drug. The processed sample is injected into a column and analyzed utilizing high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), which separates, identifies, and quantifies each compound.

Here's a look at our equipment:

Sartorius Precision Balance

Hair samples are weighed on a precision balance.

Agilent Technologies 6495A Triple Quad LC/MS

Our Agilent Technologies 6495A LC/MS system coupled to a Agilent Technologies 1290 Infinity II UHPLC is a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer for small molecule analysis.

Agilent Technologies 6495D Triple Quad LC/MS

Our Agilent Technologies 6495D LC/MS system coupled to a Agilent Technologies 1290 Infinity II UHPLC is our newest Agilent triple quadrupole mass spectrometer for small molecule analysis. Our future assays will be developed on this machine.

Sciex 7500+ LC-MS/MS

Our Sciex 7500+ LC-MS/MS system coupled to a ExcionLC UHPLC is our newest Sciex triple quadrupole mass spectrometer with QTRAP for small molecule analysis. Our future assays will be developed on this machine.

Waters Quattro Ultima LC-MS/MS

The Waters Quattro Ultima LC-MS/MS system, connected with Shimadzu Pumps and a Waters Autosampler, ionizes the samples at atmospheric pressure and delivers a digitized analysis.

Shimadzu Prominence HPLC-UV/FL

The Shimadzu Prominence HPLC-UV/FL system delivers highly sensitive, high-speed analyses. Researchers compare stock and working solutions through an automated injection and separation process that is detected by UV absorption or fluorescence emission