SOFT 2004 Meeting Abstracts - Society of Forensic Toxicologists

PIO
STABILITY OF SULFONYLUREAS IN STORED POSTMORTEM BLOOD SPECIMENS AND
WATER STANDARDS
A.H. Battah, M.D, Ph.D*, Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Division, Faculty of Medicine, University of
Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan.
K.A. Hadidi, Ph.D, Toxicology Laboratory, Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Division, Faculty of
Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan.
Stability of three commonly prescribed sulfonylureas (gJipizide, chlopropamide and glibenclamide) in
postmortem blood and water stored at -20,4, and 25°C were evaluated over a I-year period. The drugs
were analyzed simultaneous by utilizing solid phase extraction techniques and were identified and
quantified by high performance liquid chromatography. The data showed that, significant loss of
g/ibenclamide (GB) was noticed at second and third week of storage at 25 and 4°C respectively. The
decrease was gradual but no clear pattern could be established. At the end of the I-year storage period at
either 4 or 25°C, the level of GB was about 37% and 46% of its initial value in aqueous solution and
postmortem blood samples respectively. There was no significant loss of both glipizide and chlopropamide
in all stored samples over the first 6-month period. After that time a significant decrease in their levels
were noticed, and at the end of the I-year of storage concentrations ranged from 67.5 to 84.1 % of their
initial values. Storage at -20°C showed the least loss of drug concentration. Authentic samples of these
drugs showed similar results. This study supports the importance of paying careful attention to using
prepared aqueous drug standards even when stored in cold conditions. In order to obtain reliable results of
drug analysis and drug stability in biological samples, such studies should be considered after prolonged
sample storage time. The best storage temperature to keep aqueous standards and blood samples for the
investigated drugs with sufficient stability was found to be at -20°C.
Keywords: Stability, Sulfonylurea, Blood.
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