Top

Forensic Toxicology

Published in:

01-07-2018 | Original Article

Long-term stability of synthetic cathinones in dried blood spots and whole blood samples: a comparative study

Authors: Kelly Francisco da Cunha, Marcos Nogueira Eberlin, Jose Luiz Costa

Published in: Forensic Toxicology | Issue 2/2018

Abstract

Purpose

The long-term stability of four synthetic cathinones in dried blood spots (DBS) were tested and compared with those of whole blood samples.

Method

A method to determine four cathinones (pentylone, butylone, mephedrone and benzedrone) in DBS was developed and validated. For comparison, the traditional liquid-liquid extraction for the same analytes in whole blood was also performed.

Results

The calibration curve was found to be linear over 25–1000 ng/mL for DBS samples, with a limit of quantification (LOQ) at 25 ng/mL. The interday imprecision and bias results [up to 7.1% relative standard deviation (RSD) and 5.8%, respectively] were much lower than the maximum data recommended by SWGTOX guidelines. The validation results were similar to those of whole blood samples, which showed interday imprecision and bias results of up to 8.1%RSD and 12.3%, respectively, with a linear calibration curve between 10 and 1000 ng/mL and LOQ of 10 ng/mL. A stability study to compare the degradation rate between both matrices at three storage temperatures [room temperature (25 °C), 4 and − 20 °C] and during 90 days proved the poor stability of cathinones in whole blood, where the methylenedioxy cathinones displayed better stability than those with ring substituents. DBS allowed detection of synthetic cathinones after much longer periods than in whole blood samples.

Conclusions

DBS proved, therefore, to be an useful alternative technique to store blood samples. Extraction of DBS is easy and analytes remain stable for much longer periods.

Available only for authorised users

Al-Hebshi NN, Skaug N (2005) Khat (Catha edulis)—an updated review. Addict Biol 10:299–307. https://doi.org/10.1080/13556210500353020 CrossRefPubMed

DEA (2012) Drug fact sheet. Bath salts or designer cathinones (synthetic stimulants). https://www.dea.gov/druginfo/drug_data_sheets/Bath_Salts.pdf. Accessed Feb 2018

UNODC (2017) Market analysis of synthetic drugs: amphetamine-type stimulants, new psychoactive substances. World drug report—booklet 4. https://www.unodc.org/wdr2017/field/Booklet_4_ATSNPS.pdf. Accessed Feb 2018

DEA (2017) Drugs of abuse—a DEA resource guide, 2017 edn. https://www.dea.gov/pr/multimedia-library/publications/drug_of_abuse.pdf. Accessed Feb 2018

Majchrzak M, Celiński R, Kuś P, Kowalska T, Sajewicz M (2018) The newest cathinone derivatives as designer drugs: an analytical and toxicological review. Forensic Toxicol 36:33–50. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-017-0385-6 CrossRefPubMed

Gil D, Adamowicz P, Skulska A, Tokarczyk B, Stanaszek R (2013) Analysis of 4-MEC in biological and non-biological material–three case reports. Forensic Sci Int 228:e11–e15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2013.03.011 CrossRefPubMed

Warrick BJ, Wilson J, Hedge M, Freeman S, Leonard K, Aaron C (2012) Lethal serotonin syndrome after methylone and butylone ingestion. J Med Toxicol 8:65–68. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13181-011-0199-6 CrossRefPubMed

Maskell PD, De Paoli G, Seneviratne C, Pounder DJ (2011) Mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone)-related deaths. J Anal Toxicol 35:188–191. https://doi.org/10.1093/anatox/35.3.188 CrossRefPubMed

Pearson JM, Hargraves TL, Hair LS, Massucci CJ, Frazee CC III, Garg U, Pietak BR (2012) Three fatal intoxications due to methylone. J Anal Toxicol 36:444–451. https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bks043 CrossRefPubMed

10.

Adamowicz P, Tokarczyk B, Stanaszek R, Slopianka M (2013) Fatal mephedrone intoxication—a case report. J Anal Toxicol 37:37–42. https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bks085 CrossRefPubMed

11.

Busardò FP, Kyriakou C, Napoletano S, Marinelli E, Zaami S (2015) Mephedrone related fatalities: a review. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 19:3777–3790 (PMID: 26502870)PubMed

12.

Papaseit E, Olesti E, de la Torre R, Torrens M, Farre M (2017) Mephedrone concentrations in cases of clinical intoxication. Curr Pharm Des 23:5511–5522. https://doi.org/10.2174/1381612823666170704130213 PubMedCrossRef

13.

Rojek S, Kłys M, Strona M, Maciów M, Kula K (2012) "Legal highs"—toxicity in the clinical and medico-legal aspect as exemplified by suicide with bk-MBDB administration. Forensic Sci Int 222:e1–e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2012.04.034 CrossRefPubMed

14.

Sadeg N, Darie A, Vilamot B, Passamar M, Frances B, Belhadj-Tahar H (2014) Case report of cathinone-like designer drug intoxication psychosis and addiction with serum identification. Addict Disord Treat 13:38–43. https://doi.org/10.1097/ADT.0b013e318285308d CrossRef

15.

Marinetti LJ, Antonides HM (2013) Analysis of synthetic cathinones commonly found in bath salts in human performance and postmortem toxicology: method development, drug distribution and interpretation of results. J Anal Toxicol 37:135–146. https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bks136 CrossRefPubMed

16.

Guirguis A, Corkery JM, Stair JL, Kirton SB, Zloh M, Schifano F (2017) Intended and unintended use of cathinone mixtures. Hum Psychopharmacol Clin Exp 32:e2598. https://doi.org/10.1002/hup.2598 CrossRef

17.

Zuba D, Byrska B (2013) Prevalence and co-existence of active components of ‘legal highs’. Drug Test Anal 5:420–429. https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.1365 CrossRefPubMed

18.

Busardò FP, Kyriakou C, Tittarelli R, Mannocchi G, Pantano F, Santurro A, Zaami S, Baglìo G (2015) Assessment of the stability of mephedrone in ante-mortem and post-mortem blood specimens. Forensic Sci Int 256:28–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.07.021 CrossRefPubMed

19.

Glicksberg L, Bryand K, Kerrigan S (2016) Identification and quantification of synthetic cathinones in blood and urine using liquid chromatography–quadrupole/time of flight (LC–Q/TOF) mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr B 1035:91–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchromb.2016.09.027 CrossRef

20.

Ambach L, Hernandez Redondo A, Konig S, Weinmann W (2014) Rapid and simple LC–MS/MS screening of 64 novel psychoactive substances using dried blood spots. Drug Test Anal 6:367–375. https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.1505 CrossRefPubMed

21.

SWGTOX (2013) Standard practices for method validation in forensic toxicology. J Anal Toxicol 37:452–474. https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkt054 CrossRef

22.

Zaami S, Giorgetti R, Pichini S, Pantano F, Marinelli E, Busardò FP (2018) Synthetic cathinones related fatalities: an update. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 22:268–274. https://doi.org/10.26355/eurrev_201801_14129 PubMedCrossRef

23.

Lenk G, Hansson J, Beck O, Roxhed N (2015) The effect of drying on the homogeneity of DBS. Bioanalysis 7:1977–1985. https://doi.org/10.4155/bio.15.135 CrossRefPubMed

24.

Kesel PMM, Capiau S, Lambert WE, Stove CP (2014) Current strategies for coping with the hematocrit problem in dried blood spot analysis. Bioanalysis 6:1871–1874. https://doi.org/10.4155/bio.14.151 CrossRefPubMed

25.

Sorensen LK (2011) Determination of cathinones and related ephedrines in forensic whole-blood samples by liquid-chromatography–electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr B 879:727–736. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchromb.2011.02.010 CrossRef

26.

Johnson RD, Botch-Jones SR (2013) The stability of four designer drugs: MDPV, mephedrone, BZP and TFMPP in three biological matrices under various storage conditions. J Anal Toxicol 37:51–55. https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bks138 CrossRefPubMed

27.

Glicksberg L, Kerrigan S (2017) Stability of synthetic cathinones in blood. J Anal Toxicol 41:711–719. https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkx071 CrossRefPubMed

28.

Tsujikawa K, Mikuma T, Kuwayama K, Miyaguchi H, Kanamori T, Iwata YT, Inoue H (2012) Degradation pathways of 4-methylmethcathinone in alkaline solution and stability of methcathinone analogs in various pH solutions. Forensic Sci Int 220:103–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2012.02.005 CrossRefPubMed

29.

Pedersen AJ, Reitzel LA, Johansen SS, Linnet K (2013) In vitro metabolism studies on mephedrone and analysis of forensic cases. Drug Test Anal 5:430–438. https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.1369 CrossRefPubMed

30.

Zaitsu K, Katagi M, Tatsuno M, Sato T, Tsuchihashi H, Suzuki K (2011) Recently abused β-keto derivatives of 3,4-methylenedioxyphenylalkylamines: a review of their metabolisms and toxicological analysis. Forensic Toxicol 29:73–84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-011-0111-8 CrossRef

31.

Kerrigan S, Savage M, Cavazos C, Bella P (2016) Thermal degradation of synthetic cathinones: implications for forensic toxicology. J Anal Toxicol 40:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkv099 CrossRefPubMed

Title: Long-term stability of synthetic cathinones in dried blood spots and whole blood samples: a comparative study
Authors: Kelly Francisco da Cunha
Marcos Nogueira Eberlin
Jose Luiz Costa
Publication date: 01-07-2018
Publisher: Springer Japan
Published in: Forensic Toxicology / Issue 2/2018
Print ISSN: 1860-8965
Electronic ISSN: 1860-8973
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-018-0418-9

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Long-term stability of synthetic cathinones in dried blood spots and whole blood samples: a comparative study

Abstract

Purpose

Method

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Method

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 2/2018

Detection of pyrovalerone as a possible synthetic by-product of 4′-methyl-α-pyrrolidinohexanophenone and 4-methyl-α-ethylaminopentiophenone in illicit drug products

Pharmacological evaluation of new constituents of “Spice”: synthetic cannabinoids based on indole, indazole, benzimidazole and carbazole scaffolds

Propofol and propofol glucuronide concentrations in hair following medical propofol administration and in forensic death cases

Postmortem distribution and redistribution of synthetic cathinones

Organ distribution of 4-MEC, MDPV, methoxetamine and α-PVP: comparison of QuEChERS and SPE

Differentiation of AB-FUBINACA and its five positional isomers using liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization-linear ion trap mass spectrometry and triple quadrupole mass spectrometry