title: Body fluid and tissue analysis using filter paper sampling support prior to LC-MS/MS: application to fatal overdose with colchicine.
abstract: Because of the various matrices available for forensic investigations, the development of versatile analytical approaches allowing the simultaneous determination of drugs is challenging. The aim of this work was to assess a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) platform allowing the rapid quantification of colchicine in body fluids and tissues collected in the context of a fatal overdose. For this purpose, filter paper was used as a sampling support and was associated with an automated 96-well plate extraction performed by the LC autosampler itself. The developed method features a 7-min total run time including automated filter paper extraction (2 min) and chromatographic separation (5 min). The sample preparation was reduced to a minimum regardless of the matrix analyzed. This platform was fully validated for dried blood spots (DBS) in the toxic concentration range of colchicine. The DBS calibration curve was applied successfully to quantification in all other matrices (body fluids and tissues) except for bile, where an excessive matrix effect was found. The distribution of colchicine for a fatal overdose case was reported as follows: peripheral blood, 29 ng/ml; urine, 94 ng/ml; vitreous humour and cerebrospinal fluid, < 5 ng/ml; pericardial fluid, 14 ng/ml; brain, < 5 pg/mg; heart, 121 pg/mg; kidney, 245 pg/mg; and liver, 143 pg/mg. Although filter paper is usually employed for DBS, we report here the extension of this alternative sampling support to the analysis of other body fluids and tissues. The developed platform represents a rapid and versatile approach for drug determination in multiple forensic media.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Toxicology and Chemistry Unit, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne-Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Estelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lauer
authors.forename: Christèle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Widmer
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Versace
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Staub
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mangin
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabatasso
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Augsburger
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Déglon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry*; D002138:Calibration; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods; D003078:Colchicine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000506:poisoning*; D059788:Dried Blood Spot Testing / Q000379:methods; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010209:Paper; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D050257:Tubulin Modulators / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D050257:Tubulin Modulators; D003078:Colchicine
keywords: LC-MS/MS; colchicine; dried blood spots; intoxication; tissue analysis