Stability of Morphine, Codeine, and 6-Acetylmorphine in Blood at Different Sampling and Storage Conditions

• NCJ Number: 246623
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 59 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2014 Pages: 550-554
• Author(s): Ioannis Papoutsis Ph.D.; Panagiota Nikolaou Ph.D.; Constantinos Pistos Ph.D.; Artemisia Dona Ph.D.; Maria Stefanidou Ph.D.; Chara Spiliopoulou Ph.D.; Sotirios Athanaselis Ph.D.
• Date Published: March 2014
• Length: 5 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The stability of drugs in biological specimens is a major concern during the evaluation of the toxicological results.

Abstract

The stability of drugs in biological specimens is a major concern during the evaluation of the toxicological results. The stability of morphine, codeine, and 6-acetyl-morphine in blood was studied after different sampling conditions: i. in glass, polypropylene or polystyrene tubes, ii. with addition of dipotassium ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid K2EDTA or sodium oxalate Na2C2O4, and iii. with or without the addition of sodium fluoride NaF. Spiked blood samples were stored at two different temperatures 4 and -20 degrees C, analyzed after different storage times and after three freeze-thaw cycles. Opiate concentrations were decreased in all conditions, but the most unstable was 6-acetyl-morphine. The addition of NaF as preservative improved the stability of opiates at all conditions studied, whereas the type of anticoagulant did not affect the stability of opiates. It was concluded that blood samples should be stored at -20 degrees C in glass tubes containing oxalate and NaF for maximum stability. Abstract published by arrangement with Wiley.