Comparison of the Biotage® RapidTrace® and Gilson® GX-271 ASPEC™ solid phase extraction automated liquid handler systems for drug screening applications in forensic casework

Abstract

Instrument operation and degree of carryover produced by the Biotage® RapidTrace® and the Gilson® GX-271 ASPEC™ solid-phase extraction liquid handler systems was compared. Samples of animal blood, human blood, and human serum were spiked with a high concentration mix of 10 drugs commonly encountered in forensic casework. They were extracted preceding three blank samples of corresponding matrix on both instruments and all samples were subsequently screened on an Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) instrument to evaluate differences in drug response values. It was found that the GX-271 ASPEC™ instrument produced lower overall drug responses in blank samples and faster time to extinction of drug responses, thereby demonstrating improved control of carryover. This instrument also showed an improvement over the RapidTrace® in overall performance and ease of operation and is therefore recommended as a beneficial replacement.