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Meprobamate overdosage: a continuing problem. Sensitive GC-MS quantitation after solid phase extraction in 19 fatal
Y Gaillard1, F Billault, G Pépin
1Laboratoire d'Expertises TOXLAB, Paris, France.
Forensic Science International
|May 5, 1997
Summary
A new, simple method allows toxicological labs to identify meprobamate in urine and blood using GC-MS. This drug remains a common cause of fatal overdoses, highlighting the need for effective detection methods.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Toxicology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Meprobamate remains a significant drug of concern in forensic toxicology.
- Fatal pharmaceutical overdoses frequently involve meprobamate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a straightforward method for meprobamate detection and quantification in biological samples.
- To establish a reliable analytical technique for routine toxicological laboratory use.
Main Methods:
- Urinary screening and blood quantitation using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) in selected-ion monitoring mode.
- Sample preparation via solid-phase extraction (SPE) on C-18 cartridges with acetone:triethylamine elution.
- Lidocaine as an internal standard, with rigorous validation including precision, linearity, and limit of detection/quantification studies.
Main Results:
- The developed GC-MS method demonstrated high precision (RSDs < 7.2%) and linearity.
- Meprobamate was identified in 5.5% of cases, being implicated in 15.3% of fatal overdoses.
- Post-mortem blood concentrations ranged from 41 to 397 mg/l (mean 182 mg/l).
Conclusions:
- The described method is simple, reliable, and suitable for any toxicological laboratory.
- Meprobamate continues to be a prevalent drug in overdose fatalities, necessitating effective analytical monitoring.