A simple method for quantifying fentanyl, sufentanil, or morphine in discard syringes from anesthesia procedures

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Forensic Toxicology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Fentanyl, sufentanil, and morphine are potent opioids frequently used in anesthesia.
• Healthcare professionals handling these substances face a significant risk of addiction and diversion.
• Effective methods are needed to monitor drug usage and prevent misuse in clinical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a method for quantifying fentanyl, sufentanil, and morphine in discard syringes.
• To establish the sensitivity, linearity, and precision of the assay for these opioids.
• To assess the potential for cross-reactivity with other common operating room drugs.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the BioRad REMEDi HS Drug Profiling System for drug quantification.
• Determined the limit of detection and linearity for fentanyl, sufentanil, and morphine.
• Calculated within-run and between-run coefficients of variation (CV) to assess assay precision.
• Tested for cross-reactivity with other anesthetic agents.

Main Results:

• The REMEDi HS system demonstrated accurate quantification for fentanyl, sufentanil, and morphine in discard syringes.
• Established detection limits: fentanyl (0.1 µg/mL), sufentanil (0.5 µg/mL), and morphine (0.5 µg/mL).
• Assay precision showed low coefficients of variation, with within-run CVs ranging from 0.9% to 11.6% and between-run CVs from 2.4% to 11.3%.
• No cross-reactivity was observed with other commonly used operating room drugs.

Conclusions:

• The BioRad REMEDi HS Drug Profiling System provides a rapid and accurate method for quantifying fentanyl, sufentanil, and morphine.
• This validated assay is suitable for detecting drug diversion from anesthesia discard syringes.
• The method contributes to drug accountability and the prevention of substance abuse among medical personnel.