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Tegner M, Ott IR, Guterres FDS, de Barros VM, Linden R, Antunes MV. Determination of Ethyl Glucuronide and Ethyl Sulfate in Dried Blood Spots by UHPLC-MS-MS: Method Validation and Assessment of Ethanol Exposure in Postmortem Samples from Road Traffic Victims. J Anal Toxicol 2023; 46:e223-e231. [PMID: 36087096 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkac074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The determination of ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS) in blood has been proposed in clinical and forensic applications to identify recent alcohol consumption. Also, there is a growing interest on the use of dried blood spots (DBS) in toxicological analysis, allowing increased stability of the analytes and simplifying sample transportation and storage. This study presents the development and validation of a method for quantifying EtG and EtS in DBS using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS-MS). The DBS samples were extracted with a mixture of methanol and acetonitrile (80:20 v/v) and analyzed using UHPLC-MS-MS with electrospray source in negative mode, after separation with a fluoro-phenyl stationary phase. Validation was performed according to the Scientific Working Group for Forensic Toxicology (SWGTOX) guidelines, with calibrations ranging from 0.10 to 18 µg/mL for EtG and 0.02 to 6 µg/mL for EtS. The analytes were stable in DBS stored from -20 to 45°C for 21 days. The method was successfully applied to capillary and venous DBS samples from 20 volunteers after ethanol ingestion and to DBS samples from 99 fatal victims of road traffic injuries. Capillary DBS was comparable to venous DBS and fresh whole blood in Passing-Bablok and Bland-Altman analysis, with correlation coefficients >0.91 (P < 0.001) for all comparisons. In postmortem application, the DBS EtG and EtS analysis indicated positive exposure to ethanol in 72.7% of the cases (EtG: 0.10-24.0 µg/mL and EtS: 0.03-4.11 µg/mL). The identification of ethanol consumption from blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) and EtG/EtS in DBS was in agreement in 98.6% of positive and 96.3% of negative cases (kappa 0.877, P < 0.001), indicating a high level of concordance with BAC in assessing alcohol use in postmortem samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariane Tegner
- Postgraduate Program on Toxicology and Analytical Toxicology, Feevale University, ERS-239, 2755, Novo Hamburgo, RS 93525-075, Brazil.,Laboratory of Analytical Toxicology, Institute of Health Sciences, Feevale University, ERS-239, 2755, Novo Hamburgo, RS 93525-075, Brazil
| | - Isabela Ritter Ott
- Postgraduate Program on Toxicology and Analytical Toxicology, Feevale University, ERS-239, 2755, Novo Hamburgo, RS 93525-075, Brazil.,Laboratory of Analytical Toxicology, Institute of Health Sciences, Feevale University, ERS-239, 2755, Novo Hamburgo, RS 93525-075, Brazil
| | - Fernanda de Souza Guterres
- Laboratory of Analytical Toxicology, Institute of Health Sciences, Feevale University, ERS-239, 2755, Novo Hamburgo, RS 93525-075, Brazil
| | - Vinicius Monteagudo de Barros
- Laboratory of Analytical Toxicology, Institute of Health Sciences, Feevale University, ERS-239, 2755, Novo Hamburgo, RS 93525-075, Brazil
| | - Rafael Linden
- Postgraduate Program on Toxicology and Analytical Toxicology, Feevale University, ERS-239, 2755, Novo Hamburgo, RS 93525-075, Brazil.,Laboratory of Analytical Toxicology, Institute of Health Sciences, Feevale University, ERS-239, 2755, Novo Hamburgo, RS 93525-075, Brazil
| | - Marina Venzon Antunes
- Postgraduate Program on Toxicology and Analytical Toxicology, Feevale University, ERS-239, 2755, Novo Hamburgo, RS 93525-075, Brazil.,Laboratory of Analytical Toxicology, Institute of Health Sciences, Feevale University, ERS-239, 2755, Novo Hamburgo, RS 93525-075, Brazil
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Cheng JYK, Hui JWS, Chan WS, So MH, Hong YH, Leung WT, Ku KW, Yeung HS, Lo KM, Fung KM, Ip CY, Dao KL, Cheung BKK. Interpol review of toxicology 2019-2022. Forensic Sci Int Synerg 2022; 6:100303. [PMID: 36597440 PMCID: PMC9799715 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsisyn.2022.100303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jack Yuk-ki Cheng
- Government Laboratory, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | | | - Wing-sum Chan
- Government Laboratory, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Man-ho So
- Government Laboratory, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Yau-hin Hong
- Government Laboratory, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Wai-tung Leung
- Government Laboratory, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Ka-wai Ku
- Government Laboratory, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Hoi-sze Yeung
- Government Laboratory, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Kam-moon Lo
- Government Laboratory, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Kit-mai Fung
- Government Laboratory, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Chi-yuen Ip
- Government Laboratory, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Kwok-leung Dao
- Government Laboratory, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
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Alternative matrices in forensic toxicology: a critical review. Forensic Toxicol 2021; 40:1-18. [DOI: 10.1007/s11419-021-00596-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose
The use of alternative matrices in toxicological analyses has been on the rise in clinical and forensic settings. Specimens alternative to blood and urine are useful in providing additional information regarding drug exposure and analytical benefits. The goal of this paper is to present a critical review on the most recent literature regarding the application of six common alternative matrices, i.e., oral fluid, hair, sweat, meconium, breast milk and vitreous humor in forensic toxicology.
Methods
The recent literature have been searched and reviewed for the characteristics, advantages and limitations of oral fluid, hair, sweat, meconium, breast milk and vitreous humor and its applications in the analysis of traditional drugs of abuse and novel psychoactive substances (NPS).
Results
This paper outlines the properties of six biological matrices that have been used in forensic analyses, as alternatives to whole blood and urine specimens. Each of this matrix has benefits in regards to sampling, extraction, detection window, typical drug levels and other aspects. However, theses matrices have also limitations such as limited incorporation of drugs (according to physical–chemical properties), impossibility to correlate the concentrations for effects, low levels of xenobiotics and ultimately the need for more sensitive analysis. For more traditional drugs of abuse (e.g., cocaine and amphetamines), there are already data available on the detection in alternative matrices. However, data on the determination of emerging drugs such as the NPS in alternative biological matrices are more limited.
Conclusions
Alternative biological fluids are important specimens in forensic toxicology. These matrices have been increasingly reported over the years, and this dynamic will probably continue in the future, especially considering their inherent advantages and the possibility to be used when blood or urine are unavailable. However, one should be aware that these matrices have limitations and particular properties, and the findings obtained from the analysis of these specimens may vary according to the type of matrix. As a potential perspective in forensic toxicology, the topic of alternative matrices will be continuously explored, especially emphasizing NPS.
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Application of microextraction techniques in alternative biological matrices with focus on forensic toxicology: a review. Bioanalysis 2020; 13:45-64. [PMID: 33326299 DOI: 10.4155/bio-2020-0241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The interest in alternative biological matrices (e.g., hair and saliva) for forensic toxicology analysis has increased, and recent developments in sample preparation have targeted rapid, cheap, efficient and eco-friendly methods, including microextraction techniques. For this review, we have gathered information about these two hot topics. We discuss the composition, incorporation of analytes and advantages and disadvantages of different biological matrices, and also present the operation principles of the most reported microextraction procedures and their application in forensic toxicology. The outcome of this review may encourage future forensic researches into alternative samples and microextraction techniques.
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