Identification of 2-aminothiazole Degradation Products in the Stool of Intensive Care Unit Patients Administered Cefepime or Ceftazidime
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The quantification of 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) in biological matrices is limited by slow enzymatic hydrolysis. We hypothesized that a catalyst-free reaction at 37°C could accelerate this process. METHODS: Urine samples (n = 50) were fortified with THC-COOH-glucuronide. Hydrolysis was compared using E. coli β-glucuronidase vs. our novel "Click" reagent. Detection was performed on a Triple Quadrupole MS monitoring the 345.2 → 299.1 and 345.2 → 193.1 transitions. RESULTS: The novel method achieved >95% hydrolysis in 15 min (vs. 2 h for enzymatic). Linearity was maintained from 1–500 ng/mL (R² = 0.998). CONCLUSION: This protocol significantly reduces preparation time while maintaining sensitivity (µg/L levels) required for forensic workflows.
