PURPOSE: Samples seized from the Southwest border ports of entry by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are submitted to the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE) for qualitative and quantitative testing. The purpose of this report is provide information on the identification of precursors, intermediates and by-products identified in tablets and powders containing fentanyl.
BACKGROUND: Seized tablets and powders suspected of containing fentanyl are analyzed using a workflow that includes qualitative analysis by both gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS).
