LC–MS–MS analysis of buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine in whole blood from suspected drug users

• Published in: Forensic science international Vol. 209; no. 1; pp. 113 - 119
• Main Authors: Seldén, Tor, Roman, Markus, Druid, Henrik, Kronstrand, Robert
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ireland Ltd 15-06-2011; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited; Elsevier Sequoia S.A
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Blood; Buprenorphine; Buprenorphine - analogs & derivatives; Buprenorphine - blood; Chromatography, Liquid; Criminal investigations; Degradation; Drug dosages; Drug use; Drugs; DUID; Female; Forensic medicine; Forensic science; Forensic sciences; Forensic Toxicology; Frozen; General aspects; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); LC/MS/MS; Liquid chromatography; Male; Mass spectrometry; Medical sciences; MEDICIN; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; MEDICINE; Metabolites; Methadone; Narcotics - blood; Opioid-Related Disorders - blood; Pathology; Plasma; Prescription drugs; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Stability; Substance Abuse Detection - methods; Substance abuse treatment; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Whole blood; France; Sweden; Whole blood; Buprenorphine; DUID; LC/MS/MS; Human; Drug addiction; Replacement therapy; Poison withdrawal; Forensic science; Legal medicine; Opiates; Forensic aspect; Liquid chromatography; Narcotic analgesic; Analysis; Mass spectrometry MS/MS; Diagnosis; Driving under the influence
• ISSN: 0379-0738; 1872-6283; 1872-6283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.01.011

Abstract A liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method is described for the analysis of buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine in whole blood. Linearity was achieved between 0.2–5 ng/g for buprenorphine and 0.5–5 ng/g for norbuprenorphine. Stability studies on spiked whole blood and an authentic sample showed no degradation of buprenorphine- and norbuprenorphine-glucuronide to their respective aglycones. Buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine showed some degradation when stored at 4 °C for three weeks, but was stable when stored at −20 °C for 4 weeks. The method was applied to forensic cases of driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) and petty drug offences (PDO) during 2007–2009. Out of 2459 cases analyzed, 322 were positive for both buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine (13%), 219 for buprenorphine only (9%), and 12 for norbuprenorphine only (0.5%). The mean and median concentrations ( N = 322) were 1.7 and 1.0 ng/g, respectively, for buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine. The mean and median norbuprenorphine/buprenorphine ratios were 1.5 and 1.1, respectively. There was no significant difference in concentration ratios for DUID and PDO cases ( p > 0.05). We conclude that the described method for analysis of buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine in whole blood could be used to investigate use or misuse of buprenorphine but that many of the cases presented with very low concentrations of buprenorphine. We also conclude that analysis should be performed within two weeks unless samples are stored frozen prior to analysis.