NCJ Number
145758
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 38 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1993) Pages: 885-893
Date Published
1993
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Although methods for sampling and testing illicit heroin are well known, a method for homogenizing heroin samples has not been statistically established; this paper reports the conditions for homogenizing granular or powdery illicit heroin samples using a blender.
Abstract
The study used a liquid chromatograph equipped with an autoinjector and a filter photometric detector. High performance gas liquid chromatography was carried out at 40 degrees C, and blending was accomplished using a Kenwood domestic blender or a Waring laboratory blender. Phosphate buffer was prepared by mixing solutions of potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate and dipotassium hydrogen orthophosphate. Working solutions of codeine and diamorphine were prepared by dissolving the drug in methanol to give a concentration equivalent to 1.0 mg/mL of free base. Different amounts of codeine phosphate and glucose were used to give a codeine concentration of 4.9, 10, and 20 percent while maintaining total powder weight at 150 g. Experimental results and statistical analysis showed that the homogenization of illicit heroin containing various concentrations of diamorphine can be achieved after blending for 3 minutes. Findings also indicated that, regardless of exhibit homogeneity, a sufficient number of random samples can accurately estimate an exhibit's drug content. 6 references, 6 tables, and 2 figures