title: Interpretation of drug concentrations in an alternative matrix: the case of meprobamate in bile.
abstract: Investigating toxicological causes of death may require alternative matrices when the usual ones are lacking. Whereas forensic toxicology uses bile almost only for xenobiotic screening, a diagnostic test interpreting postmortem bile concentrations of meprobamate is reported. Based on 128 sets of autopsy data, its intrinsic qualities were good, with 0.95 sensitivity and 0.93 specificity. In a French forensic population, the positive and negative predictive factors were 0.90 and 0.97, respectively. It is a useful means of revealing overdoses where blood samples are not available or of confirming blood tests when postmortem redistribution is suspected.
authors.affiliation: Université de Lyon, Lyon, 69003, France. Laurent.fanton@adm.univ-lyon1.fr
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fanton
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bevalot
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Gustin
authors.forename: C Z
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Paultre
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Meur
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Malicier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001646:Bile / Q000737:chemistry*; D062787:Drug Overdose; D005260:Female; D053593:Forensic Toxicology / Q000379:methods; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000032:analysis*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008620:Meprobamate / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008620:Meprobamate