Artificial oral fluid characterisation: Potential for use as a reference matrix in drug testing

Area of Science:

• Forensic Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Drug screening programs require large volumes of biological matrices for quality assurance.
• Limited availability of natural oral fluid (OF) poses challenges for obtaining sufficient reference samples.
• Synthetic alternatives are explored to overcome matrix volume limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare and characterize artificial oral fluid (AOF) as a potential matrix for quality assurance.
• To evaluate the physical properties of AOF for its suitability in drug screening.
• To assess the feasibility of AOF as a reliable substitute for natural OF.

Main Methods:

• Artificial oral fluid (AOF) was prepared by dissolving its components (salts, surfactant, antimicrobial agent, mucin) in water.
• Physical properties including pH, specific gravity, conductivity, freezing point depression, light-scattering, and kinematic viscosity were characterized.
• AOF was prepared using components from different suppliers for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

• Characterization confirmed AOF as a stable and reliable matrix.
• Evaluated physical properties demonstrated AOF's suitability for quality assurance purposes.
• AOF prepared with components from various suppliers showed consistent characteristics.

Conclusions:

• Artificial oral fluid (AOF) is a feasible matrix for preparing quality assurance samples.
• AOF can support drug screening and confirmatory programs by overcoming natural OF volume limitations.
• The developed synthetic oral fluid provides a consistent and reliable alternative for laboratory use.