ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 6

The Storage of Forensic Urine Drug Specimens as Dry Stains: Recovery and Stability
DuBey, IS
Corning National Center for Forensic Science, MD

Caplan, YH
Corning National Center for Forensic Science, MD

(Received 20 August 1992; accepted 22 January 1996)

Abstract

The feasibility of storing forensic urine drug specimens as dry stains on Whatman #3 paper was studied by evaluating the stability of the drugs and recovery from the stains. Drug stains prepared from urine (3 mL) were stored at − 20°C, 4°C, and at room temperature for a period of 12 weeks. The study included: amphetamine, benzoylecgonine, 11-nor-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabino-9-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH), morphine, and phencyclidine (PCP) as examples of the HHS regulated drug classes. Drugs were eluted from the stains as follows: methanol:saline (1:1) for PCP and THC-COOH, saline for benzoylecgonine and carbonate/bicarbonate buffer pH 9.2 for amphetamine and morphine. Stains were eluted from the support matrix (Whatman #3 filter paper), extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. All drugs were stable under all of the storage conditions except the THC-COOH urine stain stored at room temperature that degraded to zero after 12 weeks. Therefore, drug stains when kept frozen or refrigerated appear to provide a viable means for storing positive urine specimens.

Keywords:
forensic science, forensic toxicology, substance abuse detection, urine, dry stain, storage amphetamine, benzoylecgonine, 11-nor-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid, morphine, phencyclidine

Paper ID: JFS14008J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14008J
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