The Analysis of Cocaine and Benzoylecgonine in Meconium

Abstract

We describe an assay for measuring cocaine and benzoylecgonine in meconium of infants born to mothers suspected of using cocaine during their pregnancy. The assay involves the use of fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) to screen for benzoylecgonine in a methanolic extract of the meconium. The FPIA is sensitive to 0.6 microgram benzoylecgonine per gram meconium. Confirmation of the presence (or absence) of benzoylecgonine and cocaine in meconium samples was performed by solid phase extraction of a second methanolic extract of the meconium, derivatizing using BSTFA, followed by a gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) analysis, which can detect both cocaine and benzoylecgonine. The GC/MS confirmation was sensitive to less than 0.25 microgram cocaine or 0.5 microgram benzoylecgonine per gram meconium. FPIA, which is commonly used in many toxicology laboratories, is advantageous because it precludes the need to use radioimmunoassays for the initial screen. The confirmation step provides greater certainty for the presence of cocaine and/or benzoylecgonine in meconium.

Use of biomarkers to indicate exposure of children to organophosphate pesticides: implications for a longitudinal study of children's environmental health.

“…Only recently has the use of meconium been investigated as a potential matrix for testing of exposure to OPs. Meconium has previously been used to identify fetal exposure to illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco (Bearer et al 1999;Browne et al 1994;Callahan et al 1992;Clark et al 1992;Dempsey et al 1999;Maynard et al 1991;Moore et al 1998;Ostrea 1999;Ryan et al 1994) as well as the more persistent environmental toxicants, such as organochlorines and heavy metals (Hong et al 2002;Ramirez et al 2000). Meconium begins to accumulate in the bowels of human fetuses at approximately 16 weeks gestation and is generally not excreted until after delivery (Moriya et al 1994).…”

Cocaine differentially inhibits neuronal differentiation and proliferation in vitro.

“…Linearity of the standard curve was excellent (r = 0.9998) and reproducible. Concentrations of the unknown samples were determined from the standard curve by least squares regression analysis (27)(28)(29)(30)(31). Cocaine stability.…”

Measurement of organophosphate metabolites in postpartum meconium as a potential biomarker of prenatal exposure: a validation study.

“…Prior research on a broad range of xenobiotics indicates that metabolites of compounds to which the fetus has been exposed can be detected in meconium. These include metabolites of illicit drugs (25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32) , nicotine (33), alcohol (34), analgesics, antihistamines, anesthetics, the food additive butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and heavy metals (26). One study has also measured pesticide levels in meconium (26).…”