# All-in-one Device for Forensic Toxicology Drug Screening

> **NIH NIH R44** · WIK DEVICES, LLC · 2022 · $258,775

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 Drug screening in toxicology cases is performed mainly using immunoassays, gas-
chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry
(LC-MS). Immunoassays lack the sensitivity, multiplexing capability, and flexibility to respond
to the rise of potent synthetic drugs including fentanyl analogs and synthetic cannabinoids. GC-
MS requires extensive sample preparation including derivatization reactions to achieve adequate
performance. LC-MS, despite being a mature technology, is still not used by most labs for drug
screening due to is high cost and complexity. We therefore see a both a technical and market need
for better drug screening technologies that combine the simplicity and automation of
immunoassays with the high sensitivity and specificity of mass spectrometry. In this Fast-Track
(combined phase I and phase II) proposal, we seek to develop a mass spectrometry-based drug
screening system utilizing paper spray mass spectrometry. The outcomes of this project will
include two disposable cartridge devices which perform sample collection, storage, extraction,
and ionization for MS detection. In addition to the disposable devices, we will also develop a
simple manually operated and a second automated mass spectrometer interface which will enable
analysis of the sample analysis cartridge on commercially available mass spectrometers. Finally,
we will create instrument control and data analysis software package to provide a complete, end-
to-end solution for drug screening.
 In phase I of this proposal, a prototype for the disposable paper spray analysis cartridge
as well as the manual mass spectrometry interface will be developed and tested. If the
performance of the analysis cartridge and interface are adequate for screening a representative
set of synthetic drugs, we will proceed to phase II. In the second phase, we will improve the sample
analysis cartridge, develop a sample collection device which will enable robust collection of a
known volume of blood from an unspecified initial volume, develop the automated MS interface,
develop needed control and data analysis software, and test the performance of the approach on
both high resolution and low resolution mass spectrometers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10482653
- **Project number:** 1R44DA056319-01
- **Recipient organization:** WIK DEVICES, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Justin Michael Wiseman
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $258,775
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-05-01 → 2023-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10482653

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10482653, All-in-one Device for Forensic Toxicology Drug Screening (1R44DA056319-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10482653. Licensed CC0.

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