Determination of Drugs of Abuse in a Single Sample of Human Teeth by a Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Method.
The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method to detect drugs of abuse in a single sample of tooth. Pulverized samples of dental materials were subjected to acid hydrolysis to detect opiates, cocaine and their metabolites. The residual dental materials from these analyses were subjected to basic extraction to detect cannabis products (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol and cannabinol). The method showed a good linearity between 0.05 and 2 ng/mg for all substances. The limit of detection ranged from 0.02 to 0.03 ng/mg, and the limit of quantification was 0.05 ng/mg. The application of the method to samples of teeth obtained from drug addicts was successful. It can be applied in post-mortem cases, especially when limited amounts of sample are available.
Chemistry Laboratory for Forensic Toxicology and Forensic Medicine, University of Macerata, Don Minzoni 9, 62100 Macerata, Italy gioott@gmail.com.
Giovanni
G
Ottaviani
Chemistry Laboratory for Forensic Toxicology and Forensic Medicine, University of Macerata, Don Minzoni 9, 62100 Macerata, Italy.
Roberto
R
Cameriere
Chemistry Laboratory for Forensic Toxicology and Forensic Medicine, University of Macerata, Don Minzoni 9, 62100 Macerata, Italy.
Marta
M
Cippitelli
Chemistry Laboratory for Forensic Toxicology and Forensic Medicine, University of Macerata, Don Minzoni 9, 62100 Macerata, Italy.
Rino
R
Froldi
Chemistry Laboratory for Forensic Toxicology and Forensic Medicine, University of Macerata, Don Minzoni 9, 62100 Macerata, Italy.
Giovanna
G
Tassoni
Chemistry Laboratory for Forensic Toxicology and Forensic Medicine, University of Macerata, Don Minzoni 9, 62100 Macerata, Italy.
Massimiliano
M
Zampi
Chemistry Laboratory for Forensic Toxicology and Forensic Medicine, University of Macerata, Don Minzoni 9, 62100 Macerata, Italy.
Mariano
M
Cingolani
D002185:Cannabidiol / Q000032:analysis; D002187:Cannabinol / Q000032:analysis; D003042:Cocaine / Q000032:analysis; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000032:analysis; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection; D053610:Opiate Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D014070:Tooth / Q000737:chemistry*
D053610:Opiate Alkaloids; D002185:Cannabidiol; D013759:Dronabinol; D002187:Cannabinol; D003042:Cocaine