ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Medicolegale 2011 September;131(3):59-66

Copyright © 2011 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Automated microplate immunoassay screening of drugs in cadaveric tissues

Bernini M., Vezzoli S., Manzoni S., Trioni V., De Ferrari F.

Dipartimento di Specialitá Chirurgiche, Scienze Radiologiche e Medico Forensi, Cattedra di Medicina Legale, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italia

Aim. The aim of this work was to evaluate the application of commercial kit, used for dosage in urine and plasma/serum, for the carrying out of screening tests for the determination of illicit drug in blood, bile, liver and brain.
Methods. We analyzed 82 postmortem samples for cocaine and opiates determination, and 13 samples (12 from subject involved in road accident and 1 postmortem sample) for cannabinoids determination. For screening analysis we used the automatic System DSX™ for Elisa test, after the preparation of one calibration curve for each substance. Validation analysis has been done by GC/MS after the preparation of three calibration curves for each substance. In this work we used the following cut-off: 50 ng/mL for cocaine, 100 ng/mL for opiates and 10 ng/mL for cannabinoids.
Results. For each molecule and matrix we compared the values obtained by test and we observed that the result had a good correspondence. Only cannabinoids showed high prevalence of false negative, probably caused by a minor specificity of the test.
Conclusion. In conclusion, ELISA is a valid screening system, used for homogenate tissue too.