Validation of an ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) method for the detection of heroin and cocaine on incriminated material

The validation of a qualitative ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) procedure for the detection of trace amounts of heroin and cocaine on incriminated material using a vacuum cleaner for sampling is presented. The limit of detection, the limit of decision, selectivity and robustness were determined. As an approach, robustness was determined using ionizational interferences and matrix effects. By using this simple sampling procedure, a positive result for incriminated clothes needs a contamination of 250 ng cocaine and 1000 ng heroin, respectively. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.