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Bile analysis of drugs in postmortem cases
R Vanbinst1, J Koenig, V Di Fazio
1Laboratory of Toxicology, St-Luc Hospital, Université catholique de Louvain, Hippocrate Avenue 10, 1200, Brussels, Belgium.
Forensic Science International
|September 5, 2002
Summary
Bile analysis reveals significantly higher drug concentrations compared to blood, often detecting substances missed in blood samples. This highlights bile
Area of Science:
- Forensic Toxicology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Bile is often collected alongside blood and other biological samples.
- Comprehensive toxicological analysis requires evaluating multiple matrices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare drug and metabolite concentrations in blood versus bile.
- To assess the utility of bile as a complementary toxicological sample.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of blood from various sites (heart, brain, femoral) and bile.
- Quantification of diverse drugs including acetaminophen, amphetamines, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, cocaine, opioids, and others.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in drug levels were observed between different blood collection sites.
- Bile generally exhibited several-fold higher drug concentrations than blood, with ratios ranging up to 2000.
- Drugs or metabolites were detected in bile in 16 out of 44 cases where they were absent in blood samples.
Conclusions:
- Bile is a valuable matrix in comprehensive toxicological analysis.
- Higher drug concentrations in bile enhance detection sensitivity.
- Collecting gallbladder with bile is recommended for complete toxicological assessment.