Applicability of an inmunoassay test for its use in post-mortem blood regarding to cocaine and opiates
Annales de Toxicologie Analytique, 2010
ABSTRACT Objectives: the number of deaths related to drugs of abuse makes necessary the use of te... more ABSTRACT Objectives: the number of deaths related to drugs of abuse makes necessary the use of tests for those cases in which a detection of the consumed drug is required. AxSYM system provides a simple, and reliable tool for the qualitative analysis of drugs and medicaments in urine and blood. Owing that this test is prepared, in the case of drugs of abuse, for urine samples, a validation becomes essential in order to use it for a different matrix than the established one. Methods: A total of 228 blood samples were obtained during autopsies by forensic doctors in those cases in which there was a suspicion of a drug-related death or when the deceased person had a history of drug abuse. All autopsies were carried out in the pathology service of the institut de medicina legal de Catalunya. Samples were processed by AxSYM analyzer immunoassay test and were compared with a qualitative GC-MS-MS analysis. Results: Sensitivity, specificity and predictive positive and negative values for cocaine were 74%, 97%, 97% and 78% respectively. For opiates were 68%, 99%, 95% a and 90% respectively. Results are only moderately related to sensibility of both drugs. The reliability of the test is supported by the reasonable agreement found with the results obtained from a highly sensitive method such as GC-MS-MS in a qualitative point of view. No other comparison or extrapolation to other biological matrixes has been achieved Objectifs : Le nombre de décès associés à la toxicomanie rend nécessaire l’utilisation de tests pour les cas dans lesquels une détection de la drogue consommée est requise. Le système AxSYM constitue un outil simple et fiable pour l’analyse quantitative des drogues et médicaments dans l’urine et dans le sang. Du fait que cette analyse est prévue, en cas de toxicomanie, pour des échantillons d’urine, une validation devient essentielle afin de l’employer dans une matrice différente. Méthodes : Un total de 228 échantillons sanguins a été obtenu pendant des autopsies par des médecins légistes dans des cas où il y avait une suspicion de décès associé à la drogue ou quand la personne décédée avait un passé de toxicomane. Toutes les autopsies ont été réalisées à l’Institut de médicine légale de Catalogne. Les échantillons ont été traités par l’analyseur d’immunoanalyse AxSYM et ont été comparés à une analyse qualitative GC-MS-MS (couplage chromatographie de masse/spectrométrie de masse). Résultats : La sensibilité, la spécificité et les valeurs prédictives positives et négatives pour la cocaïne étaient respectivement de 74 %, 97 %, 97 % et 78 %. Pour les opiacés, les résultats étaient respectivement de 68 %, 99 %, 95 % et 90 %. La sensibilité est modérée pour les deux drogues. La fiabilité de l’analyse est étayée par la bonne relation trouvée avec les résultats obtenus à partir d’une méthode hautement sensible comme la GC-MS-MS d’un point de vue qualitatif. Aucune autre comparaison ou extrapolation d’autres matrices biologiques n’a été faite.
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Papers by Marta Sánchez
facilitating their dispersal between isolated aquatic habitats. We present the first evidence that such passive internal transport within birds
may be relevant for insect populations. In three out of six faecal samples from black-tailed Godwits on autumn migration in southwest Spain,
we found larvae of the chironomid Chironomus salinarius which had survived gut passage. Although adult chironomids can fly, they are
likely to disperse greater distances when transported as larvae via birds. In insects with discrete generations, such passive transport also enables colonization of new habitats at times when flight by adults is not an option.
facilitating their dispersal between isolated aquatic habitats. We present the first evidence that such passive internal transport within birds
may be relevant for insect populations. In three out of six faecal samples from black-tailed Godwits on autumn migration in southwest Spain,
we found larvae of the chironomid Chironomus salinarius which had survived gut passage. Although adult chironomids can fly, they are
likely to disperse greater distances when transported as larvae via birds. In insects with discrete generations, such passive transport also enables colonization of new habitats at times when flight by adults is not an option.