Stability of ethyl glucuronide in hair reference materials after accelerated aging. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ammann, D.; Becker, R.; Nehls, I.
• Is Part Of: Forensic science international. Volume 257(2015)
• Page Start: 337
• Page End: 340
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Alcohol marker -- Micropulverization -- HPLC–MS/MS -- Fortification -- Long term stability; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Forensic -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine légale -- Périodiques; Chimie légale -- Périodiques; Gerechtelijke geneeskunde; Gerechtelijke chemie; Gerechtelijke psychiatrie; Chemistry, Forensic; Medical jurisprudence; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.09.015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0379-0738

Abstract

Highlights: Hair materials containing ethyl glucuronide were submitted to accelerated aging. Authentic and incorporated hair materials was stored between −20 °C and +60 °C. Aging periods ranged temperature dependently between 1 month and up to 24 months. Ethyl glucuronide did not degrade significantly under the investigated conditions. Abstract: Two different hair reference materials, one produced from authentic hair displaying an ethyl glucuronide (EtG) content of about 25 pg/mg and one obtained by fortification of blank hair to an EtG level of 85 pg/mg were submitted to accelerated aging between 4 °C and 60 °C for periods between one and 24 months. Subsequently, the EtG content was determined in the aged samples and untreated reference samples stored at −22 °C under repeatability conditions following the so-called isochronous approach. The EtG content remained stable even at 40 °C for 24 months and at 60 °C over six months. This is in contrast to many organic analytes contained in trace concentrations in diverse matrices. A slight but significant increase of the recovered EtG in case of authentic hair samples having been exposed for 24 months between 4 °C and 60 °C may be due to a temperature-driven process that allows increased recoveries of the physiologically embedded EtG.