The continued growth of trace drug detection using thermal desorption ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) necessitates the development of test materials for the validation of instrument operation. A variety of instrument and mobility standards have been proposed. We have recently sought to understand the behavior of one class of these standards in thermal desorption IMS. Additionally, the swabbing procedure must itself be validated. The preferred method for such a validation of IMS for trace explosive detection has been the dry-transfer method. In this method, a quantity of material, preferably near the instrument detection limit, is deposited onto a test strip in solvent and allowed to dry. This test strip is used to transfer material on a test substrate, which is then swabbed under the conditions normally used for trace analysis by IMS. Focusing on this dry-transfer method, we have determined a number of suitable substances for use as test-materials for illicit drug detection. The initial qualification of these materials by determination of transfer efficiency from various substrates will be presented.

Progress in the development of test materials for trace drug detection by thermal desorption ion mobility spectrometry using swabbing techniques

246th National Meeting (2013)

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