The recovery of illicit drugs from oral fluid sampling devices.
Testing for drugs in oral fluid is a convenient procedure for determining recent drug use. A number of issues are still to be resolved and this paper investigates the effects of storage systems on drug stability and recovery using three different collection devices supplied by Cozart, Immunalysis and Microgenics (third party). Drugs were analysed using a range of immunoassay systems followed by MS confirmation and quantitation. The reproducibility of the weight of specimen collected was excellent (CV<10%) for the three collection devices tested. Of the three systems studied, only the Cozart product gave acceptable recovery of THC from drug-spiked oral fluid. A combination of Cozart, Immunalysis and Diagnostix immunoassays with the Cozart collection system gave the most sensitive and discriminating screening assays for the drugs studied, namely THC, benzodiazepines, methamphetamine and morphine. Storage at either 5 degrees C or room temperature had no significant effect on drug recoveries.
Dickson
Stuart
S
Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd., Kenepuru Science Centre, PO Box 50 348, Porirua, New Zealand. stuart.dickson@esr.cri.nz
Park
Alexandra
A
Nolan
Susan
S
Kenworthy
Sarah
S
Nicholson
Cheryl
C
Midgley
Julie
J
Pinfold
Rowena
R
Hampton
Scott
S
D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000032:analysis; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000032:analysis; D004355:Drug Stability; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis*; D007118:Immunoassay; D009020:Morphine / Q000032:analysis; D009294:Narcotics / Q000032:analysis; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000032:analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*
D013287:Illicit Drugs; D009294:Narcotics; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D009020:Morphine; D013759:Dronabinol