Which profiling technique is preferred for drug testing due to its sensitivity?

Mass spectrometry is preferred for drug testing due to its exceptional sensitivity and specificity. This technique allows for the identification and quantification of drugs at very low concentrations, making it particularly valuable for detecting substances in complex biological matrices like blood or urine.

The process involves ionizing chemical species and sorting the ions based on their mass-to-charge ratios, which provides a detailed analysis of the compounds present in a sample. Mass spectrometry can detect even trace amounts of drugs and their metabolites and is crucial for confirming the presence of specific substances after initial screening tests.

In the context of drug testing, the ability to distinguish between compounds that might have similar structures or mass is vital, and mass spectrometry excels in this area. It is often combined with chromatographic techniques like gas or liquid chromatography, which help separate the compounds before mass spectral analysis, enhancing the overall sensitivity and resolution of the testing process.