Detecting Synthetic Opioids With an Agilent HPLC and Poroshell Column

The opioid epidemic continues to pose a serious challenge for the medical and forensic communities. Since 1999, unintentional overdose deaths involving opioid pain relievers have more than quadrupled—surpassing fatalities from heroin and cocaine combined since 2002. The emergence of synthetic opioids, including fentanyl and carfentanil, has intensified the crisis due to their extreme potency and detection difficulty.

Using Chromatography to Detect Synthetic Opioids

To combat this growing problem, forensic and toxicology laboratories depend on Agilent HPLC systems paired with Poroshell columns for the sensitive detection of opioids and synthetic analogs. As highlighted by Agilent researcher Russell Lee, chromatographic analysis has become essential for identifying trace levels of these deadly compounds in biological samples.

“Authorities are increasingly encountering designer and synthetic opioids that are significantly stronger than traditional prescription opioids.”

The Deadly Potency of Synthetic Opioids

Fentanyl is approximately 10 times more lethal than heroin—a dose as small as 3 milligrams can be fatal to an adult. (Stat News) In one of the largest seizures in U.S. history, New York authorities confiscated nearly 195 pounds of fentanyl (NBC).

Carfentanil hydrochloride is even deadlier—100 times stronger than fentanyl. A dose of just 20 micrograms can kill an average adult male, and more than 400 U.S. deaths have been linked to this compound (Forensic Chemistry).

Chromatography in Action: Real-World Applications

Despite the small doses involved, scientists have successfully detected carfentanil and fentanyl in biological samples using advanced chromatographic methods. In Florida, forensic researchers confirmed the presence of both compounds in a driver’s blood following a single-vehicle crash—the first documented DUI case to confirm these substances in a human performance blood sample using an Agilent LC system with a Poroshell column.

In Canada, an Alberta toxicology laboratory became the first to develop a blood-screening method that can reliably detect carfentanil using Chrom Tech Positive Pressure Manifolds for semi-automated sample preparation. Their workflow, detailed in the Calgary Herald, demonstrates how chromatography-based tools are supporting national efforts to identify opioid use with precision and consistency.

U.S. laboratories have also developed sensitive semi-automated methods for analyzing 13 different fentanyl analogs, including carfentanil, in human urine—using the Agilent HPLC platform to ensure accuracy and reproducibility.

Chrom Tech’s Role in Supporting Opioid Research

Detecting synthetic opioids poses unique challenges due to their potency and low detection thresholds. Reliable instrumentation and consumables are critical for identifying these compounds in complex biological matrices. Chrom Tech supplies a wide range of components and consumables that support this work, including:

• Agilent HPLC replacement parts and maintenance kits
• InfinityLab Poroshell columns for high-efficiency separations
• Positive Pressure Manifolds for automated sample preparation

As the opioid crisis continues to evolve, laboratories equipped with high-performance chromatographic tools will remain on the front line of detection, enabling faster identification and analysis of synthetic opioids in both clinical and forensic settings.

About Chrom Tech

Chrom Tech is a Minnesota-based, worldwide distributor of chromatography and mass spectrometry instrumentation, parts, and consumables. We supply HPLC vials, 96-well plates, syringe filters, and solvent waste containers—everything your lab needs to support high-precision chromatography and spectrometry workflows. Contact our team to make Chrom Tech your preferred supplier for chromatography and mass spectrometry supplies.