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A comparison of vitreous fluid and blood matrices in postmortem drug analysis

Erin B Divito1, Jedediah I Bondy2, Zachary J DiPerna2

  • 1Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, Greensburg, PA 15601, United States.

Journal of Analytical Toxicology
|March 4, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Vitreous fluid (VIT) shows promise for postmortem drug analysis, offering a stable matrix. However, whole blood analysis remains optimal for certain analytes like fentanyl and its metabolites.

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Toxicology
  • Postmortem Analysis
  • Analytical Chemistry

Background:

  • Peripheral blood is the standard for postmortem toxicology.
  • Vitreous fluid (VIT) may offer better preservation due to resistance to postmortem redistribution.
  • Understanding alternative matrices is crucial for accurate toxicological assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate vitreous fluid (VIT) as a matrix for postmortem analysis of 6-acetylmorphine, morphine, cocaine, benzoylecgonine, fentanyl, and norfentanyl.
  • To compare drug detection frequencies and concentrations between VIT and peripheral blood.
  • To determine the utility of VIT analysis versus traditional blood analysis.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of paired peripheral blood and vitreous fluid (VIT) samples from 122 postmortem cases.
  • Toxicological analysis for specific drugs of abuse and their metabolites.
  • Statistical correlation of drug concentrations between the two matrices.

Main Results:

  • Vitreous fluid (VIT) is a viable matrix for detecting several drugs of abuse and their metabolites.
  • Drug concentrations in VIT do not always correlate optimally with whole blood concentrations.
  • Differences in analyte suitability are likely due to physiochemical properties and pharmacokinetics.

Conclusions:

  • Vitreous fluid (VIT) analysis is a valuable tool in postmortem toxicology for specific analytes.
  • Whole blood analysis remains superior for certain drugs, including fentanyl and its metabolites.
  • The choice of matrix depends on the specific analyte and pharmacokinetic considerations.

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