APHL 2022 POSTER ABSTRACTS
Environmental Health / Food Safety
Background / Introduction : Mitragyna speciose , known as kratom , is a native tropical tree to southeast Asia , with leaves that contain compounds that can have psychotropic effects . The species has been used in herbal medicine and is used in religious traditions . The leaves of the kratom plant can be chewed , brewed in tea , smoked , or eaten in food . However , most people take kratom as a pill , capsule or extract . Two compounds in kratom leaves , mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine , interact with mu-opioid receptors in the brain , producing sedation , pleasure and decreased pain , especially when users consume large amounts of the plant . When kratom is taken in low to moderate doses it produces stimulant effects . The legality of the plant versus the legality of the specific analytes is becoming increasingly complicated as states take different legal actions as well as the federal government .
Objective : The objective of this study is to develop and validate a method for the detection of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine in keratinized specimens using a Laser Diode Thermal Desorption Tandem Mass Spectrometry ( LDTD-MS / MS ) screening analysis and a Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry ( LC-MS / MS ) confirmation analysis .
Results : The Standard Practices for Method Validation , was followed . The LDTD-MS / MS analysis had a cutoff of 100 pg / mg , with a limit of detection of 30 pg / mg . Both the extracts and dried LazWell plates were stable for 48 hours and no carryover or obvious interferences were observed during the validation . Significant ion suppression was observed for 7-hydroxymitragynine , however , significant ion enhancement was observed for mitragynine . Authentic specimens were analyzed and presumptive positive specimens were forwarded to LC-MS / MS for confirmation . The confirmation method was validated with a cutoff of 100 pg / mg and a limit of detection of 5 pg / mg for 7-hydroxymitragynine and 3 pg / mg for mitragynine . Precision and accuracy were challenged at 40 pg / mg ( Low ), 125 pg / mg ( Mid ) and 1000 pg / mg ( High ) following our standard in-house procedure for setting up assays and results were acceptable . Extracts were stable for up to 7 days , there was significant ion suppression , > 25 % for both analytes and no obvious interferences or carryover were observed . Linear range was determined to be between 40 pg / mg and 2000 pg / mg . All authentic specimen analyzed showed 100 % correlation with the screening analysis .
Discussion / conclusion : Kratom has found an increased use among people who are looking at alternatives to traditional opioids . The validated method described here allows accurate identification of usage of kratom , allowing for objective proof that can be used by rehab and diversion programs to intervene and provide more successful outcomes . On a federal level , the FDA has no approved use for kratom , while the DEA has listed kratom as Drug and Chemical of Concern .
Presenter : Andre Sukta , USDTL , andre . sukta @ usdtl . com
FOOD SAFETY
Utilizing APHL ’ s Learning Management Portal to Promote the PulseNet USA BioNumerics v7.6 Training
A Yusuf and K Kubota , Association of Public Health Laboratories
Background : PulseNet , the national molecular subtyping network for foodborne disease surveillance , was established in 1996 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ), United States Department of Agriculture ( USDA ), United States Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ), four state public health laboratories and Association of Public Health Laboratories ( APHL ). The PulseNet program works with federal , state , local and international partners to create a globally integrated surveillance network in response to foodborne disease outbreaks . APHL works with federal partners to provide training in the wet-bench and analytical methods ( BioNumerics ) for public health laboratories participating in the PulseNet network both domestically and globally . Due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic , in-person trainings were paused , which led APHL and the Enteric Disease Laboratory Branch at the CDC to collaborate and develop online training modules .
Methods : APHL Food Safety department worked closely with the Training Workforce and Development at APHL to develop P . A . C . E . ( Professional Acknowledgment for Continuing Education ) accredited training webinars . The P . A . C . E . material application checklist was followed to ensure the training was aligned with the P . A . C . E . guidelines . Our CDC partners created the assessments ( quiz questions ) for each part of this series . Participants are required to score 80 % or above to receive P . A . C . E . credit . A series of Zoom calls were made with the CDC to record each presentation for the training . APHL also used the transcription service REV to help transcribe the recordings . All training materials , such as flyers , presentations , transcripts and assessments , are live on the APHL Learning Management Portal .
Results : Data gathered from July 2021 to March 2022 shows that 143 participants registered for the BioNumerics training . Of these , 54 participants fully completed the training , 51 participants have not started the training and an additional amount of 38 participants are still completing the training . Data found that most public health laboratorians completed the training between September and October of 2021 . A total of 23 state public health laboratories , eight local public health laboratories and two federal laboratories completed the training . The PulseNet BioNumerics Advanced training series went live on the APHL Learning Management Portal in March 2022 . The intended audience will be those who are familiar with BioNumerics or have completed the PulseNet BioNumerics v7.6 self-study .
Conclusion : Due to the SARS-Cov-2 Pandemic , in-person training was paused . However , APHL and CDC were able to efficiently adapt and utilize the Learning Management Portal for the delivery of training materials in 2021 . This portal allowed our participants to complete the training virtually and at their own pace . In just a few months , we were able to enroll over 100 participants in the BioNumerics v . 7.6 training series . Despite the obligations of working the front lines of the public health response to SARS-Cov-2 , PulseNet participating laboratory scientists found time to complete these training modules , demonstrating the importance of this