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Interfering Peaks in Gas Chromatographic Exclusion Screening of Direct Chloroform Extracts of Blood

NCJ Number
70073
Journal
Acta Pharmacologica et Toxicologica Volume: 29 Issue: 2 Dated: (1971) Pages: 113-126
Author(s)
S K Niyogi; F Rieders
Date Published
1971
Length
14 pages
Annotation
A study of the abilities of 24 endogenous biochemicals to interfere with gas chromatographic analyses for drugs of direct chloroform extracts obtained from forensic blood specimens is discussed.
Abstract
In the search for toxins in human hody tissues and body fluids, endogenous constituents and their breakdown products sometimes either obscure or mimic significant exogenous agents. The present investigation deals with gas chromatographic characteristics on the moderately polar phenylsilicone OV-17 of 24 common biogesnic compounds which appeared to be potential interferants in the gas chromatographic exclusion screening procedures. The relative retention on OV-17 of the compounds and the direct extractabilities of 8 of these were compared with those of 30 directly extractable acidic, phenolic, neutral, and basic drugs. On direct extracts of blood, gas chromatographic peaks were obtained wiih phenylethylamine, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-hydroxphenylacetic acid, and stearic acid. Palmitic acid and p-hydroxphenylpropionic acid were not directly extractable. No gas chromatographic peaks were obtained with three neutral lipids, cholesterol, four cholesterol esters, deoxycholic acid, phosphatidyl L-serine, heparin, and L-glutamine. Post mortem toxicological cases are described in which apparent barbiturate, tripelennamine, hydroxyglutethimide, and desipramine gas chromatographic peaks were probably mimicked by stearic acid, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and/or tryptamine. Differentiations were affected by selective washing of the choloroform extracts with weak and strong bases, acid, ammoniacal silver mitrate, and aqueous soduimbisulfite. Tables, figures, and about 20 references are included in the article. For related material, see NCJ 70072. (Author abstract modified)