title: Long-term storage of authentic postmortem forensic blood samples at -20°C: measured concentrations of benzodiazepines, central stimulants, opioids and certain medicinal drugs before and after storage for 16-18 years.
abstract: The long-term stability of benzodiazepines, opioids, central stimulants and medicinal drugs in authentic postmortem blood samples was studied. All together, 73 samples were reanalyzed after storage at -20°C for 16-18 years. At reanalysis samples containing diazepam, nordiazepam and flunitrazepam demonstrated only small changes during long-term storage when mean and median drug concentrations were compared, while clonazepam concentrations tended to decrease. Samples containing amphetamine, morphine, codeine and 'acidic' medicinal drugs as paracetamol and meprobamate also showed small changes over 16-18 years in mean and median drug concentrations at a group level. For many drugs, however, single samples could demonstrate marked concentration changes, both increases and decreases during storage. For 'alkaline' medicinal drugs, concentration losses were observed in most cases.
authors.affiliation: Division of Forensic Sciences, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 4404, Nydalen 0403, Oslo, Norway ritva.karinen@fhi.no.
authors.forename: Ritva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Karinen
authors.affiliation: Division of Forensic Sciences, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 4404, Nydalen 0403, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Wenche
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Andresen
authors.affiliation: Department of Quality, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 4404, Nydalen 0403, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smith-Kielland
authors.affiliation: Division of Forensic Sciences, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 4404, Nydalen 0403, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Jørg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mørland
mesh_terms: D000661:Amphetamine / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D001793:Blood Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D003061:Codeine / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D003975:Diazepam / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005445:Flunitrazepam / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D053593:Forensic Toxicology / Q000379:methods; D005615:Freezing; D006801:Humans; D009020:Morphine / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D003708:Nordazepam / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D005445:Flunitrazepam; D003708:Nordazepam; D009020:Morphine; D000661:Amphetamine; D003975:Diazepam; D003061:Codeine