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Identification of ketamine and its metabolites in biological samples: A systematic review

Document Type : Review Article

Author

Department of Forensic Toxicology, Legal Medicine Research Center, Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background: While numerous studies have delved into the analysis of ketamine (KET) in biological samples, this forthcoming study undertook a systematic review of diverse methods for identifying KET in various biological samples to attain a more precise estimation.
Methods: Research articles published from 2004 to September 30, 2024, were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. A methodical search was conducted using English search terms, such as “Ketamine” OR “K” OR “ketamine hydrochloride” OR “Norketamine” OR “NK” OR “N-desmethyl ketamine” OR “2-amino-2-(2-chlorophenyl)cyclohexan-1-one” OR “(+-)-Hydroxynorketamine” OR “HNK” OR “Dehydronorketamine” OR “DNK” OR “Metabolites” AND “Analysis” OR “Analytical techniques” OR “Analytical innovations” OR “Methods” OR “Identification” OR “Gas chromatography” OR “Liquid chromatography” OR “Mass Spectrometry” AND “Biological samples” OR “Biological matrices”. The selection criteria were established according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.
Results: Out of 3,450 articles identified in the initial systematic search, 50 met the inclusion criteria and were investigated in this study. The findings revealed that advanced hyphenated analytical methods combined with mass spectrometry (MS), such as gas chromatography-MS (GC-MS), liquid chromatography-MS (LC-MS)were prominent. Additionally, liquid-liquid extraction and solid-phase extraction were the prevailing methods employed for KET sample preparation.
Conclusion: Overall, a comprehensive understanding of the available identification methods for KET and its metabolites is essential for accurate and reliable analysis in various fields, including clinical research, forensic investigations, and drug monitoring programs.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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Asia Pacific Journal of Medical Toxicology
Volume 14, Issue 2
June 2025
Pages 47-56
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