Journal Published Online: 01 January 1984
Volume 29, Issue 1

Postmortem Stability of Barbiturates in Blood and Tissues

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

The stability of five commonly prescribed barbiturates and thiopental in blood and liver at room temperature and at 4°C was studied. Gas chromatography was used for oxybarbiturate analysis while liquid chromatography was used to quantitate thiopental. In blood and liver, greater than 75% of the drugs were detected at the end of the two- to three-month period. These changes were not considered significant; therefore, barbiturates appear to be stable in blood and liver under the conditions of these experiments.

Author Information

Levine, BS
Medical Examiner's Office of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
Blanke, RV
Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, VA
Valentour, JC
Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of General Services, Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, Bureau of Forensic Sciences, Richmond, VA
Pages: 8
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: JFS11643J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS11643J