ABSTRACT
Ambient plasma ionization mass spectrometry techniques are based on electrical discharges in a flowing gas. The ionization takes place at ambient conditions, allowing for direct sample analysis without or with minor sample preparation. This feature makes ambient plasma ionization methods suitable in forensic analyses, where high speed is often required in combination with high specificity of mass spectrometry data. The oldest ambient plasma ionization method is direct analysis in real time (DART). DART was also successfully applied in direct analysis of tetrahydrocannabinol from hair. DART remains the main ambient plasma ionization technique used in forensic analysis, but other methods, such as flowing atmospheric pressure afterglow or dielectric barrier discharge ionization, are gaining increased attention. The application of ambient plasma ionization methods minimizes the time necessary to deliver analytical evidence, as the methods circumvent laborious sample preparation.
