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Sweat Testing for Benzodiazepines

NCJ Number
165761
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 41 Issue: 5 Dated: (September 1996) Pages: 851-854
Author(s)
P Kintz; A Tracqui; P Mangin
Date Published
1996
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Thirteen subjects participated in a clinical study to determine the cumulative excretion, time course, dose- concentration relationship, and concentration of diazepam in sweat following oral administration of a single dose of the drug; nordiazepam and oxazepam, two metabolites of diazepam, were also investigated.
Abstract
Sweat was collected using a patch, and patches were removed at specified times over a 1-week period. Drug content was determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in negative chemical ionization mode using deuterated internal standards. Irrespective of the time of collection, diazepam and nordiazepam were present but oxazepam was never detected. Drugs were detectable in the 2- to 4-hour period following administration. Peaks of diazepam were obtained during the 48- to 72-hour period. After the peak, a decrease in drug concentration was observed. Drug concentrations ranged from 0.1 to 6 ng/patch for both diazepam and nordiazepam. After single administration of diazepam (10, 20, or 30 mg), drugs monitored in three groups of subjects appeared to be dose-related. Data suggested that sweat patch technology can be used as an alternative to urine testing to document drug use over a week-long surveillance period. 10 references and 4 tables

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