title: Stability of trihexyphenidyl in stored blood and urine specimens.
abstract: Trihexyphenidyl (THP) is an anticholinergic agent with forensic toxicological interest. The stability of THP was studied in postmortem blood and urine samples at a concentration of 0.25 microgram/ml under different storage temperatures. After solid phase extraction (SFE), THP was measured by gas chromatography. On day zero and at intervals over a 6 months period, there was no significant loss of THP at the storage temperatures -20 degrees C and 4 degrees C in the spiked and authentic samples. Blood and urine samples stored at 25 degrees C showed a maximum recovery loss (about 14%) of THP after 3 months of storage. This loss was considered a significant change and corresponded to a P value < 0.046. The study demonstrates that the analysis of blood and urine samples containing THP would produce consistent results when they are stored for 6 months at -20 or 4 degrees C and for 3 months at 25 degrees C.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Division, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Battah
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hadidi
mesh_terms: D001793:Blood Preservation; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004355:Drug Stability; D006801:Humans; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013696:Temperature; D014282:Trihexyphenidyl / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D010276:Parasympatholytics; D014282:Trihexyphenidyl