Journal of analytical toxicology最新文献

{"title":"Analysis of 132 submandibular salivary glands using the Randox Evidence Investigator and Randox DOA ULTRA WB array.","authors":"Jessica L Adamczyk, Joseph A Prahlow, Roberta Grieger-Nimmo, Rajeswari Kundu, Prentiss Jones","doi":"10.1093/jat/bkae071","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jat/bkae071","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Occasionally, obtaining an adequate or acceptable postmortem blood specimen for drug analysis is not possible due to factors such as decomposition, exsanguination, or embalming. Submandibular salivary gland tissue, one of three major types of salivary gland tissue in the oral cavity of humans, has been reported to be a viable alternative postmortem specimen for toxicological testing. In this study, we evaluated the performance of the Randox Evidence Investigator instrument and Randox DOA (Drugs of Abuse) Ultra Whole Blood Array for the semi-quantitative determination of 21 immunoassays in an alternative matrix, submandibular salivary gland tissue. We analyzed 132 submandibular salivary gland tissue specimens and compared the generated results to concomitantly collected postmortem whole blood specimen results. Oxycodone 2, meprobamate, barbiturate, benzodiazepine assay 1, zolpidem, and buprenorphine all showed perfect agreement (Cohen's kappa score = 1.00) between the submandibular salivary gland tissue results and the postmortem whole blood results; dextromethorphan, fentanyl, benzoylecgonine, methamphetamine, tricyclic antidepressants, oxycodone 1, and opiate showed an almost perfect agreement (Cohen's kappa score = 0.81-0.99); methadone, generic opioids, and amphetamine exhibited substantial agreement (Cohen's kappa score = 0.61-0.80). Tramadol demonstrated fair agreement (Cohen's kappa score = 0.41-0.60). The lowest measure of agreement was observed with cannabinoids, meeting criteria for slight agreement (Cohen's kappa score = 0.01-0.20). An application of the techniques described in this study could be implemented in postmortem toxicology laboratories as well as medical examiners offices to provide preliminary drugs of abuse test results that can be used to direct additional testing. This study highlights the successful integration of a novel specimen matrix and an \"off-label\" use of an established analytical technique.</p>","PeriodicalId":14905,"journal":{"name":"Journal of analytical toxicology","volume":" ","pages":"591-597"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142004286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Postmortem diphenhydramine blood concentrations in children.","authors":"H Rachelle Wallage, Marie Elliot","doi":"10.1093/jat/bkae084","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkae084","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Diphenhydramine has been available for decades in non-prescription formulations for the treatment of allergic reactions, insomnia and symptomology associated with colds. In addition, dimenhydrinate, a precursor to diphenhydramine, is available in preparations for the treatment of nausea and vomiting. Diphenhydramine and other first-generation antihistamines are being replaced by second- and third-generation antihistamines which are associated with fewer side effects, notably the lack of drowsiness; however, there are still a variety of therapeutic uses that have persisted in both adults and children. In this study, postmortem blood concentrations of diphenhydramine were determined, by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, in seven children with concentrations ranging from 0.051 to 2.6 mg/L. The cause of death in two cases was attributed, at least in part, to diphenhydramine toxicity while diphenhydramine detection in five cases was considered incidental to the cause of death.</p>","PeriodicalId":14905,"journal":{"name":"Journal of analytical toxicology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142500837","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long-term stability of sufentanil quantified by UPLC-MS-MS in human plasma frozen for 11 years at -20°C.","authors":"Andreas Wehrfritz, Stefanie Schmidt, Harald Ihmsen, Jürgen Schüttler, Christian Jeleazcov","doi":"10.1093/jat/bkae083","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkae083","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The long-term stability of drug concentrations in human plasma samples when stored under normal laboratory conditions over several years is important for research purposes and clinical re-evaluation, but also for forensic toxicology. Fifty human plasma samples from a former clinical trial were re-analyzed after storage at -20°C for 11 years. Plasma samples were extracted using solid-phase extraction. Isotope labelled sufentanil-D5 was used as internal standard. Sufentanil plasma concentrations were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) with gradient elution, followed by tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization. The linear dynamic range (LDR) was 25 - 2500 pg/mL, the limit of detection was 10 pg/mL, and the lower limit of quantification was 25 pg/mL. Intra- and inter-assay error did not exceed 6%. The deviation of the measured sufentanil plasma concentrations between the reanalysis and the first analysis was -63 ± 14% (mean ± SD). Therefore, sufentanil concentrations in human plasma were not stable in samples frozen at -20°C over 11 years.</p>","PeriodicalId":14905,"journal":{"name":"Journal of analytical toxicology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142465977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Double Designers: Detection of Bromazolam and Metonitazene in Postmortem Casework.","authors":"Van Cleve Danielle, Mackenzie Liebl, Ani Kazaryan","doi":"10.1093/jat/bkae082","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkae082","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The identification of novel psychoactive substances (NPSs) in casework at the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner (LACDME) is constantly evolving. The case detailed herein marks the first detection of metonitazene in forensic casework at the LACDME which occurred in August 2023. Furthermore, bromazolam was found in the decedent's system and both substances were identified in drug evidence collected at the death scene. No other drugs were detected and the manner and cause of death were determined as accidental due to effects of bromazolam and metonitazene. The concentrations detected were 1.6 ng/mL and 4.4 ng/mL of metonitazene in the jugular blood and femoral blood, respectively, and 93 ng/mL of bromazolam in the femoral blood. Constraints in screening techniques conducted by toxicology laboratories create challenges in which numerous NPSs available on the illicit drug market can go undetected. Even if labs detect an NPS in their screening methodology, confirmation methods might not cover every NPS, given the impracticality of labs keeping pace with validations as new NPSs emerge in casework. The significance of testing medical evidence collected at death scenes by drug chemistry analysis becomes crucial when initial toxicology results are negative. In cases where there is evidence of potential drug paraphernalia this is especially true as it can be pivotal in determining the cause and manner of death.</p>","PeriodicalId":14905,"journal":{"name":"Journal of analytical toxicology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142465976","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Liquid-Liquid Extraction Solvent Selection for Comparing Illegal Drugs in Whole Blood and Dried Blood Spot with LC-MS/MS.","authors":"Melike Aydoğdu, Hasan Ertaş, Fatma Nil Ertaş, Serap Annette Akgür","doi":"10.1093/jat/bkae081","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkae081","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study focused on the simultaneous detection of amphetamine, 3,4-methyl enedioxy methamphetamine, morphine, benzoylecgonine, and 11-nor-9-carboxy- tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC-COOH) in whole blood and DBS. It is aimed to select a solvent mixture for liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) technique employing LC-MS/MS. The obtained DBS results were compared with the whole blood samples results.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A simple, rapid, and reliable LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for all analytes in whole blood and DBS. LC was performed on a Hypersil Gold C18 column an initial step with a gradient of 0.01 % formic acid, 5 mM ammonium format buffer in water, and acetonitrile at 0.3 ml/min with 7.5-min runtime.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A methanol:acetonitrile (40:60 v/v) mixture was selected for both matrices. LOQ values were 10-25 ng/mL; linear ranges were LOQ-500 ng/ml for all analytes; correlation coefficients were greater than 0.99, and all calibrator concentrations were within 20%. Analytical recovery in blood and DBS ranged from 84.9-113.2% of the expected concentration for both intra and-inter day. Analytes were stable for 1, 10, and 30 days after three freeze/thaw cycles. It was determined that the variances of the results obtained with the two matrices in the comparison study were equal for each analyte, and the results were highly correlated (r=0.9625).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A sensitive, accurate, and reliable chromatographic method was developed to determine amphetamine, MDMA, morphine, benzoylecgonine, and cannabis, by performing the same preliminary steps with whole blood and dried blood spots. It was observed that the results obtained in these two matrices were compatible and interchangeable when statistically compared.</p>","PeriodicalId":14905,"journal":{"name":"Journal of analytical toxicology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142375418","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Rise of Bromazolam in Postmortem Cases from Travis County, Texas and Surrounding Areas: 2021-2023","authors":"Kayla N Ellefsen, Christina R Smith, Paul D Simmons, Lauren A Edelman, Brad J Hall","doi":"10.1093/jat/bkae079","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkae079","url":null,"abstract":"As novel psychoactive substances (NPS) have continued to emerge over the last decade, NPS benzodiazepines have likewise increased in prevalence. They pose an evolving threat to public health and safety with regard to postmortem cases, particularly when used in combination with opioids. Bromazolam was first detected in Travis County, Texas (TX) in April 2021. Given the recent onset of the fentanyl epidemic in this region, the international rise of bromazolam, and increased reports of “benzo-dope”, a retrospective study was conducted to characterize bromazolam-positive deaths in Travis County and surrounding counties from 2021-2023. Bromazolam was identified in 112 deaths from 2021-2023, accounting for 1.57% of cases submitted for toxicology testing (n=7,129). During that interval, a 7.5-fold increase was observed in postmortem bromazolam-related drug toxicities from 2021 (n=7) to 2023 (n=53). Fatalities primarily occurred in males in their early-30’s. Postmortem concentrations ranged from 21-220 ng/mL, with mean (median) concentrations of 69.4 ± 48.4 (53.5) ng/mL. Polydrug use was present in 99% of bromazolam-positive deaths with co-occurrence with other drugs and drug classes widely varying over time. Bromazolam was attributed as the sole cause of death in one case with a postmortem blood concentration of 23 ng/mL. Polydrug use in bromazolam-related drug toxicities commonly involved fentanyl (82%), methamphetamine (41%), and cocaine (28%). Similarly, cases where bromazolam was an incidental finding and non-contributory to the cause of death often involved methamphetamine (38%), alprazolam (33%), and cocaine (33%). In light of the significant increase in fentanyl-related deaths in Travis County, the increasing prevalence of bromazolam accompanying fentanyl was particularly alarming due to the heightened risk of toxicity when used in combination. Identifying and evaluating bromazolam-related deaths clarifies the impact of bromazolam on this population, promotes awareness, and aids in identifying meaningful harm reduction strategies to decrease bromazolam-related morbidity and mortality.","PeriodicalId":14905,"journal":{"name":"Journal of analytical toxicology","volume":"81 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142258901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development and method validation of a sampling technique for a reproducible detection of synthetic cannabinoids in exhaled breath using an in vitro pig lung model","authors":"Nadja Walle, Adrian A Doerr, Benjamin Peters, Matthias W Laschke, Michael D Menger, Peter H Schmidt, Markus R Meyer, Nadine Schaefer","doi":"10.1093/jat/bkae078","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkae078","url":null,"abstract":"Alternative matrices, especially exhaled breath (EB), have gained increasing attention for a few years. To interpret toxicological findings, knowledge on the toxicokinetic (TK) properties of a substance in EB is indispensable. Whilst such data are already accessible for various drugs (e.g. Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol), they are still not available for new psychoactive substances, particularly synthetic cannabinoids (SCs). As SCs raise a high public health concern, the aim of this study was to assess these data in future TK studies in pigs. For this purpose, an in vitro sampling technique of EB was initially developed, being prospectively applied to anesthetized and ventilated pigs for the detection of SCs in a controlled and reproducible manner as exemplified by cumyl-5F-P7AICA. Furthermore, a method for the qualitative and quantitative detection of cumyl-5F-P7AICA in EB using glass fiber filters (GFF) was established und fully validated. Therefore, cumyl-5F-P7AICA (0.5 mg/mL in ethanol abs.) was initially nebulized using a ventilation machine and a breathing tube, as they are also used in surgeries. The aerosol was delivered into a simulated pig lung. To collect EB, a pump was connected to that part of the breathing tube, that contains EB (expiratory limb), and sampling was performed repeatedly (n=6) for 15 min (2 L EB/min) each using GFF. For extraction of the substance, the GFF were macerated with acetone and the remaining experimental components were rinsed with ethanol. After sample preparation, the extracts were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. In the complete experimental setup, about 40% of the initially nebulized cumyl-5F-P7AICA dose was found with 3.6 ± 1.3% being detected in the GFF. Regarding the comparably high loss of substance, the open ventilation system and a conceivable adsorption of the SC in the ventilator have to be considered. However, the herein introduced approach is promising to determine the TK properties of cumyl-5F-P7AICA in EB.","PeriodicalId":14905,"journal":{"name":"Journal of analytical toxicology","volume":"112 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142222667","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-Class Analysis of 57 Drugs Quantitatively in Blood and Qualitatively in Urine by LC-MS/MS to Complement Comprehensive DFC, DUID and Postmortem Testing","authors":"Luke N Rodda, Megan Farley, Steven Towler, Tyler Devincenzi, Sue Pearring","doi":"10.1093/jat/bkae077","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkae077","url":null,"abstract":"A streamlined LC-MS/MS method utilizing protein precipitation and filtration extraction was developed to consolidate analyses for drug-facilitated crime (DFC), postmortem investigations, and driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) testing. Fifty-seven target drug and metabolite analytes eluted in under 6-minutes and compromised of GHB precursors (1), hallucinogens (3), muscle relaxants (3), anticonvulsants (7), antidepressants (20), antihistamines (5), antipsychotics (11), antihypertensives and alpha-adrenergics (3), analgesics and anesthetics (3), and miscellaneous (1) in blood (quantitatively) and urine (qualitatively). Limits of detection were set to meet the more challenging sensitivity requirements for DFC, and are therefore also suitable for postmortem investigations, and other forensic casework, including DUID. Comprehensive ASB/ANSI validation was performed, and applicability studies examined 72 proficiency test blood and urine samples, along with 9,206 unique blood and urines samples from 5,192 authentic forensic cases that resulted in 11,961 positive analytes in samples. By expanding the analytical reach across multiple drug classes through a unified approach and screening a wider number of drugs, the technique can identify substances that might have previously evaded detection, thereby enhancing laboratory efficiency by minimizing the need for multiple tests. When combined with a recently developed in-house method, this integrated testing strategy meets the testing requirements outlined in ASB/ANSI standards and recommendations for DFC, postmortem, and Tier 1 DUID analyses.","PeriodicalId":14905,"journal":{"name":"Journal of analytical toxicology","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142227548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Four-year evaluation of drug-impaired driving drug concentrations","authors":"Grace Cieri, Amanda L A Mohr, Melissa Fogarty, Aya Chan-Hosokawa, Barry K Logan","doi":"10.1093/jat/bkae073","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkae073","url":null,"abstract":"Drug-impaired driving is a significant public health and safety concern in the USA. To help assess current patterns of drug use in drivers, we evaluated 4 years of drug positivity in a large cohort of suspected impaired drivers. Samples collected between January 2017 and December 2020 were tested via a method compliant with the National Safety Council’s Alcohol, Drugs, and Impairment Division’s Tier I scope of recommended drugs. In 2017, NMS Labs received 17 346 driving under the influence of drugs cases, 17 471 in 2018, 19 050 in 2019, and 16 539 in 2020. The most common drug class detected was cannabinoids in ∼50% of the cases each year. The most common drugs detected over the 4 years were delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9 THC), ethanol, amphetamine/methamphetamine, fentanyl, and alprazolam. Delta-9 THC increased in positivity over the study, having been identified in 45% of cases in 2017, 46% in 2018, 46% in 2019, and 49% in 2020. Ethanol was found in 59% of cases in 2017, 59% in 2018, 61% in 2019, and 53% in 2020. Delta-9 THC and ethanol were the most common drug combination, found together in ∼19% of the cases every year of the study. Statistically significant increases in the average concentration of the following drugs were observed: fentanyl (5.7 ng/mL in 2017 to 9.6 ng/mL in 2020), methamphetamine (301 ng/mL in 2017 to 381 ng/mL in 2020), and delta-9-THC (6.4 ng/mL in 2017 to 7.3 ng/mL in 2020). Other findings included increases in the maximum reported concentrations between 2017 and 2020 for amphetamine (1400 to 2700 ng/mL), methamphetamine (5550 to 13 000 ng/mL), and fentanyl (56 to 310 ng/mL). Statistically significant concentration decreases were noted for several central nervous system depressants, notably prescription benzodiazepines, and several prescription narcotic analgesics.","PeriodicalId":14905,"journal":{"name":"Journal of analytical toxicology","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142258902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comment on 'Comprehensive toxicological screening of common drugs of abuse, new psychoactive substances, and cannabinoids in blood using supported liquid extraction and liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry'.","authors":"Jessica Ayala, Sarah Kerrigan","doi":"10.1093/jat/bkae057","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jat/bkae057","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14905,"journal":{"name":"Journal of analytical toxicology","volume":" ","pages":"519-522"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141468024","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}