U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Long-Term Stability of Synthetic Cathinones in Forensic Toxicology Samples
NCJ Number
              251194

Author(s)
          Sarah Kerrigan;
                        Lindsay Glicksberg
Date Published

June 2017
Length
              95 pages
Annotation
              This study assessed the stability of synthetic cathinone's in urine and blood over a period of 6 months, using liquid-chromatography/quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry (LC-Q/TOF-MS), so as to understand drug stability in biological evidence examined in criminal and death investigations.
Abstract
              The study determined that cathinone stability is highly dependent on temperature, pH, and analyte. No concentration dependence was observed. Cathinones were most stable when frozen in acidic urine, and they were least stable under alkaline conditions at elevated temperatures. The chemical structure of these polyfunctional aminoketones had a significant influence on stability. Under some conditions, drugs were undetectable within 24 hours of storage. Under all conditions tested, the pyrrolidone-type cathinones were the most stable, followed by the methylenedioxy-type, ring-substituted, and unsubstantiated cathinones. Both the methylenedioxy and pyrrolidinyl substituents exerted a significant stabilizing effect. Twenty-two cathinones were selected for the study based on their structural features and functional substituents. Cathinones bearing secondary and tertiary (pyrrolidinyl) amines, ring substituents, and methylenedioxy substituents were included in the study. Cathinone stability was assessed in urine at pH 4 and 8 and at physiological pH in blood to determine analyte, pH, concentration, and temperature (-20 degrees centigrade, 20 degrees centigrade, and 32 degrees centigrade). These findings highlight the need for quantitative drug findings in toxicological investigations to be interpreted cautiously, with attention to the context of specimen storage and integrity. 25 tables, 23 figures, and 57 references
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2013-R2-CX-K006


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Research (Applied/Empirical)
                                Report (Study/Research)
                                Report (Grant Sponsored)
                                Program/Project Description


  
  
        
  Award
        Long-Term Stability of Synthetic Cathinones in Forensic Toxicology Samples
    
  
  
Date Published: June 1, 2017
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Body fluid analysis
        Medicolegal death investigations
        Novel psychoactive substances
        Drug analysis
        Drug detection



  
Similar Publications
        
                      ICPUTRD: Image Cloud Platform for Use in Tagging and Research on Decomposition
                  Score-based Likelihood Ratio Properties for the Specific-Source Identification Problem
                  Investigating Root Causes of School Violence: A Case-Control Study of School Violence Offenders, Non-School Youth Violence Offenders, and Non-Offending Youths
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov