Cocaine detection in neonatal gastric aspirate samples

We prospectively analyzed the feasibility and sensitivity of gastric fluid detection of cocaine compared with standard meconium analysis. Cocaine was detected in nearly half (45.5%) of gastric aspirate samples tested from infants in whom meconium was positive for cocaine. The time to sample acquisition was substantially shorter for gastric aspirate sampling versus meconium analysis. The possible ramifications of the presence of cocaine in amniotic fluid are discussed.