environmental health
Massachusetts LRN-B and LRN-C Level-1
Laboratories Collaborate on Suspected Fentanyl
Sample Testing
By Jennifer L. Jenner, PhD, LRN-C coordinator, Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory and Cheryl Gauthier, MA, MT
(ASCP), LRN-B coordinator, Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory
Fentanyl poses a significant danger to
public health workers, first responders
and law enforcement personnel who
unwittingly come into contact with it
through skin absorption or accidental
inhalation. Massachusetts is ranked
second in the country for state fentanyl
drug confiscations by the National
Forensic Laboratory Information System
(NFLIS). The Massachusetts State Public
Health Laboratory (SPHL) Chemical Threat
Response Laboratory (CTRL) provides 24/7
emergency testing of both clinical and
environmental samples after a chemical
or suspected chemical exposure, with
results typically obtained within one
to two hours of receiving sample(s).
White Powder in the Mail
In August 2016, five envelopes were
collected by law enforcement as part
of an ongoing local police investigation
into suspicious mailings to multiple
addresses. Believed to be related to a
domestic dispute, and because there
were no obvious threats associated with
the mailings, three of the five envelopes
were delivered to the Massachusetts
State Police Crime Laboratory (SPCL)
for fingerprint analysis. After opening
the envelopes, investigators found that
they contained small bags of white
powder. Following the protocol regarding
handling of unknown substances not
submitted as part of a drug investigation,
a state hazmat response was initiated
by SPCL. There were no exposures, and
the samples were safely packaged by
hazmat technicians and transported to
the SPHL Biothreat Response Lab (BTRL)
for testing. The two remaining envelopes
were still in the evidence locker at the
local police department, so SPCL advised
contacting the local fire department to
initiate a state hazmat response. Hazmat
technicians performed field screening and
PublicHealthLabs
@APHL
packaged the envelopes for safe transport
from the station to BTRL for testing.
After biologic testing was completed
on the powders and no agents were
identified, specimen aliquots were sent
to CTRL to screen for harmful chemical
compounds. CTRL initially used Raman
and FTIR to test the powders, which
appeared to be a mixture according
to spectral library search results, but
inositol (a common harmless illicit drug
adulterant) was identified by both testing
platforms. After GC/MS analysis, there
was a large chromatographic peak whose
mass spectrum could not be matched to
anything in the NIST 14 Mass Spectral
Library. CTRL contacted NIST chemists
and requested help in identifying the
compound. Based on the mass spectrum,
the substance was determined to be
furanyl fentanyl, a somewhat less potent
analog of fentanyl. The mass spectrum of
this compound will be in the next version
of the National Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST) Mass Spectral
Library. Following standard protocols,
CTRL initiated a chain-of-custody transfer
of the powders back to the submitters,
who were advised to bring them to SPCL’s
Drug division for confirmatory testing.
in August. Because SPHL anticipates it
will continue to receive unknown white
powders suspect for fentanyl, fentanyl
analogs and other opioids, it has trained
all LRN-B and LRN-C staff on the use of
naloxone, including how to identify the
signs and symptoms of exposure and
overdose. These discussions have included
performing a risk assessment to ensure
that laboratory staff are adequately
protected during sample processing.
Timely testing of suspicious powders
for biologic and chemical threats is only
possible due to the excellent working
relationship between the LRN-B and
LRN-C laboratories, law enforcement
personnel and first responders. This
rapid response provides vital public
health information to assist with
managing potential exposures. ■
Exposure Response
In December 2016, a detective at another
police department was exposed to an
unknown powder while performing a
drug field test. He experienced a rapid
onset of symptoms and was transported
to the hospital. This triggered a state
hazmat response so the powder could
be safely contained and packaged for
transport to CTRL for testing. On-call
chemists who reported to the laboratory
after hours were able to presumptively
identify the substance as furanyl
fentanyl based on their prior experience
APHL.org
CTRL Supervisor Pete Kane prepares an unknown white
powder for analysis by GC/MS
Summer 2017 LAB MATTERS
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