Drug Checking

Question 1

How long is the warm up phase for the FTIR machine?

Answer 1

10 minutes - bar will no longer be green on opus

Question 2

Calibrating the FTIR to environment ensures what?

Answer 2

Measurements are cleaner and there’s less noise in the measured spectra

Question 3

What does PQ mean? Should be done when?

Answer 3

Performance Qualification- calibration test

•must be done weekly
•should be done every time the machine is moved locations

Question 4

How to run PQ test?

Answer 4

1. Click status light (green) at the bottom right corner of the screen (on opus)
2. Select accessory type
3. Select PQ Test
4. Select Run Test
5. Takes 5 mins light will turn green when done

Question 5

What is the 1st step of every drug check? And why?

Answer 5

Background Scan - click “measure background” on left hand side

Zeroes the sensor to prepare for the sample scan (just a like a scale) - must be done immediately before loading the sample

Question 6

How many mg for testing?

Answer 6

5mg

Question 7

What to do after background scan is done?

Answer 7

1. Click “measure sample” on left hand side of screen
2. Insert sample information
3. Make sure line is flat
4. Put drugs on the sensor
5. Lower handle slowly
6. When graph is past 0.3 click “start measurement” - bottom left

Question 8

What is the format of the naming convention?

Answer 8

0 [site identifier]
MM [month of test]
DD [day of test]
YY [year of test]
## [daily sample number]
II [technician initials]

Question 9

Graph should reach what level on the y axis?

Answer 9

Over 0.3

Question 10

Samples are measured with how many scans?

Answer 10

24 scans - takes 24 seconds

Question 11

Why is calibration important?

Answer 11

Because it’s sensitive to temperature and humidity so we need to account for those factors

Question 12

3 reasons why we must clean the spectrometer after every sample?

Answer 12

1. No cross contamination
2. Ensure each measurement is representative of the respective sample
3. Background scan will need to be performed for the next sample

Question 13

Spectra is caused by infrared light

Answer 13

A) absorbed causing a peak
B) not absorbed causes a flat line

Question 14

Definition of Spectra

Answer 14

Graphical representations of the sample’s chemical composition

Question 15

X axis is the

Answer 15

Wave number

Representation of the frequency infrared light that is either absorbed (peak) or not absorbed (flat line)

Question 16

Drug analyzing

Answer 16

1. Load file in - button top right corner
2. Press “spectrum search” - red magnify glass
3. Perform subtractive analysis
   [spectrum search, search parameters, select libraries]
4. Perform mixture analysis

Question 17

Two-step process

Answer 17

1. Subtractive analysis - identifies components
2. Mixture analysis - assigns approximate proportions

Question 18

Spectrum search know how

Answer 18

1. Spectrum Search Tab: Use file limits - searches entire spectra image
2. Search Parameters: select which analysis type and algorithms to use
3. Select libraries: select which reference libraries you want to search your spectrum against

Question 19

Subtractive analysis know how

Answer 19

1. Spectrum Search
2. Search parameters -
   a) spectrum correlation
   b) vector normalization
   c) 1st derivative
3. Search libraries - 3 primary ones

Question 20

What are the 3 primary libraries

Answer 20

1. SWGDRUG
2. TICTAC
3. BCCSU

Question 21

Definition of Hit Quality? What does score represent?

Answer 21

A score out of 1,000 that ranks how well the searched spectrum correlates to the library entry

High scores are better but the number itself does not mean too much.

Question 22

The red spectrum is…?

Answer 22

The one we measured and the one we are working with

Question 23

How to drag peaks up and down to evaluate how well the spectra match

Answer 23

1. In window right click “shift curve”
2. Hit “top”

Question 24

How to evaluate for other agents in spectra sample by removing primary signal?

Answer 24

1. Right click on the library entry of primary signal
2. Click “auto subtract and new search”

Question 25

What happens if two compounds both have peaks at the same wave number?

Answer 25

If two compounds both have peaks at the same wave number, the spectrometer can’t tell which compound is responsible for that absorption

Question 26

What is composite spectrum

Answer 26

The result after the algorithm breaks down the measured spectrum and tries to re-create it with the library entries Displayed with percentage make up of signal *Mixture Analysis*

Question 27

Mixture Analysis know how

Answer 27

1. Return to 1st tab where original spectrum 2. “Spectrum Search” - red magnify glass 3. Search parameters select a) mixture analysis on right hand side b) select “expected number of components” 4. Select libraries (typically only 1 BCCSU) 5. Click “Search library” bottom left corner

Question 28

How to close a tab?

Answer 28

When a tab is open you can click “x” on the right hand side to close it and press “discard changes”

Question 29

What is the residual

Answer 29

The difference between the red and purple lines (mixture analysis)

Question 30

Drawbacks from mixture analysis (3)

Answer 30

1. Will often not return results for components present at less than 10% 2. Will often return false results that you did not detect during subtractions 3. Different search parameters will affect the outcome (ie: libraries)

Question 31

Golden rule of mixture analysis

Answer 31

Never immediately believe a result reported in mixture analysis that wasn’t first detected during subtractions

Question 32

DCBC Steps

Answer 32

1. Select site location 2. Brings you to home page 3. Left hand side - “Visit Summary” 4. Click “new visit” - top right hand corner 5. Click “add sample” a) pre check b) FTIR check c) post check

Question 33

A) Pre check log info

Answer 33

1. Expected drug 2. Pre or post use 3. Colour and texture 4. Results

Question 34

Why is it important to collect drug checking data?

Answer 34

Drug checking data provides timely information about local drug markets in British Columbia

Question 35

How many components can the FTIR detect?

Answer 35

Up to 4

Question 36

Greeting service user important things to cover

Answer 36

1. The two technologies we use. 2. The limit of detection of the FTIR and why we use the test strips to overcome this 3. That a few grains of their sample will be dissolved in water for the test strips. 4. The length of time the test will take. ** make sure to receive verbal consent to proceed**

Question 37

Questions to ask the service user

Answer 37

1. Do you have any questions about the disclaimer or the procedure before we begin? 2. How many drugs are you wanting to check today? 3. What did you purchase this sample as? 4. Have you tried the sample yet?