Abstract
Occasionally, the only postmortem samples available for analysis are contaminated with formaldehyde, either due to embalming prior to sampling or because analysis is carriedout only when formalin-fixed tissues retained for histological study are available. Formaldehyde reacts with several drugs of forensic interest that contain either a primary or asecondary amine group to form their N-methyl derivatives. We investigated the stabilityof3,4-methylenedioxymethampetamine (MDMA), 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone) and 3-trifluromethylphenylpiperazine (3-TFMPP) in formalin solutions using three different formaldehyde concentrations (5, 10 and 20%) and three different pHs (3.0, 7.0 and 9.5). Analysiswas performed using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection to determine the percentage degradation of each drug over time, up to 60 days. MDMA, mephedrone and 3-TFMPP are unstable in formalin solutions, with the degradation rate increasing withincreasing pH. After 28 days in 20% formalin, pH 9.5, there remained 57% of the initial 3-TFMPP concentration,11% of the initial MDMA concentration and 4% of the initial mephedrone concentration. Forensic toxicologists should be aware that, when analyzing for these drugs in an embalmed body or in tissues stored in formalin solutions, the methylated formofthe secondary amine-containing drug could be a more useful analyte than the parent drug.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 440-446 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Analytical Toxicology |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| Early online date | 16 Jul 2013 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Sep 2013 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Stability of 3,4-methylenedioxymethampetamine (MDMA), 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone) and 3-trifluromethylphenylpiperazine (3-TFMPP) in formalin solution. / Maskell, Peter D.; Seetohul, L. Nitin; Livingstone, Alison C.; Cockburn, Alexandra K.; Preece, Jamie; Pounder, Derrick J.
In: Journal of Analytical Toxicology, Vol. 37, No. 7, 01.09.2013, p. 440-446.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Stability of 3,4-methylenedioxymethampetamine (MDMA), 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone) and 3-trifluromethylphenylpiperazine (3-TFMPP) in formalin solution
AU - Maskell, Peter D.
AU - Seetohul, L. Nitin
AU - Livingstone, Alison C.
AU - Cockburn, Alexandra K.
AU - Preece, Jamie
AU - Pounder, Derrick J.
PY - 2013/9/1
Y1 - 2013/9/1
N2 - Occasionally, the only postmortem samples available for analysis are contaminated with formaldehyde, either due to embalming prior to sampling or because analysis is carriedout only when formalin-fixed tissues retained for histological study are available. Formaldehyde reacts with several drugs of forensic interest that contain either a primary or asecondary amine group to form their N-methyl derivatives. We investigated the stabilityof3,4-methylenedioxymethampetamine (MDMA), 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone) and 3-trifluromethylphenylpiperazine (3-TFMPP) in formalin solutions using three different formaldehyde concentrations (5, 10 and 20%) and three different pHs (3.0, 7.0 and 9.5). Analysiswas performed using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection to determine the percentage degradation of each drug over time, up to 60 days. MDMA, mephedrone and 3-TFMPP are unstable in formalin solutions, with the degradation rate increasing withincreasing pH. After 28 days in 20% formalin, pH 9.5, there remained 57% of the initial 3-TFMPP concentration,11% of the initial MDMA concentration and 4% of the initial mephedrone concentration. Forensic toxicologists should be aware that, when analyzing for these drugs in an embalmed body or in tissues stored in formalin solutions, the methylated formofthe secondary amine-containing drug could be a more useful analyte than the parent drug.
AB - Occasionally, the only postmortem samples available for analysis are contaminated with formaldehyde, either due to embalming prior to sampling or because analysis is carriedout only when formalin-fixed tissues retained for histological study are available. Formaldehyde reacts with several drugs of forensic interest that contain either a primary or asecondary amine group to form their N-methyl derivatives. We investigated the stabilityof3,4-methylenedioxymethampetamine (MDMA), 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone) and 3-trifluromethylphenylpiperazine (3-TFMPP) in formalin solutions using three different formaldehyde concentrations (5, 10 and 20%) and three different pHs (3.0, 7.0 and 9.5). Analysiswas performed using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection to determine the percentage degradation of each drug over time, up to 60 days. MDMA, mephedrone and 3-TFMPP are unstable in formalin solutions, with the degradation rate increasing withincreasing pH. After 28 days in 20% formalin, pH 9.5, there remained 57% of the initial 3-TFMPP concentration,11% of the initial MDMA concentration and 4% of the initial mephedrone concentration. Forensic toxicologists should be aware that, when analyzing for these drugs in an embalmed body or in tissues stored in formalin solutions, the methylated formofthe secondary amine-containing drug could be a more useful analyte than the parent drug.
U2 - 10.1093/jat/bkt051
DO - 10.1093/jat/bkt051
M3 - Article
VL - 37
SP - 440
EP - 446
JO - Journal of Analytical Toxicology
JF - Journal of Analytical Toxicology
SN - 0146-4760
IS - 7
ER -