Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40864408›Full record

ArticleForensic toxicology2026

Development of a rapid targeted and non-targeted analysis method for etomidate and its structural analogues by ambient flame ionization mass spectrometry.

Meiting Lin, Miao Zhang, Zhen Zhang, Ping Xiang, Yunli Zhao, Junbo Zhao

Abstract read
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Article in Forensic toxicology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Meiting LinSchool of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road 103, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China.
Miao ZhangKey Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Science, Academy of Forensic Science, Guangfu West Road 1347, Shanghai, 200063, China.
Zhen ZhangSchool of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road 103, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China.
Ping XiangKey Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Science, Academy of Forensic Science, Guangfu West Road 1347, Shanghai, 200063, China.
Yunli ZhaoSchool of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road 103, Shenhe District, Shenyang, 110016, China. yunli76@163.com.
Junbo ZhaoKey Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Science, Academy of Forensic Science, Guangfu West Road 1347, Shanghai, 200063, China. zhaojb@ssfjd.cn.

Funding

the National Key Research and Development Program of China 2022YFC3302003the Shanghai Forensic Service Platform 19DZ2292700the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine 21DZ2270800
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeEtomidate, which is a psychoactive drug with an anesthetic effect, is used as a substitute for expensive mainstream drugs. There has been a trend toward abuse of etomidate and its emerging structural analogues now. Faced with a large number of samples, a rapid and effective detection method is needed.

methodsIn this study, ambient flame ionization (AFI) coupled with LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry was used to analyze etomidate and its structural analogues in urine. It can realize detection in less than 0.2 min without sample preparation.

resultsIdeal analysis conditions were obtained by optimizing various parameters and analytical performance was validated. The isomers (isopropoxate and propoxate) can be distinguished by ion abundance ratios. Positive samples (n = 75) were analyzed very efficiently and successfully from plenty of authentic specimens (n = 116). Statistical analysis was conducted on drug types, age, and gender of drug users. A new structural analogue was discovered in one of the samples, which was a very crucial discovery. That meant the market may face with the emergence of new structural analogues.

conclusionsThis study can satisfy both targeted and non-targeted screening, which provides support for timely monitoring and detection of novel drugs and offers a wider range of method choices for forensic laboratories. It can also better cope with the current situation of drug control and combat crimes related to new types of drugs.

Indexed as

EtomidateSubstance Abuse DetectionAdolescentAdultFemaleForensic ToxicologyHumansIsomerismMaleMass SpectrometryMiddle AgedYoung AdultEtomidateAmbient flame ionizationEtomidateStructural analoguesUrine

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.