Application of pericardial fluid to the analysis of morphine (heroin) and cocaine in forensic toxicology

In this study opiates (morphine and codeine) and cocaine and its related metabolites (benzoylecgonine and cocaethylene) were analyzed in pericardial fluid by GC/MS. This is the first study reporting levels of drugs of abuse in this body fluid. The analytical method used has been previously validated and then applied to 54 drug-related deaths in the Barcelona area (Spain). Median levels were as follows: morphine 589 ng/ml, range 19–8857 (n = 49); codeine 26 ng/ml, range 15–343 (n = 35); cocaine 78 ng/ml, range 10–220 (n = 14), benzoylecgonine 742 ng/ml, range 20–3386 (n = 15), and cocaethylene 36 ng/ml, range 9–100 (n = 13). In addition, a comparative study of the concentration of opiates and cocaine in pericardial fluid by both semi-quantitative EMIT d.a.u.® and GC/MS (used as reference) was performed. Fairly good correlations for opiates (r = 0.905) and cocaine (r = 0.859) were found; however, the consistently low results of EMIT in the analysis of cocaine comparing to GC/MS could be caused by matrix effect. In spite of that, it raises the possibility of using the immunoassay as a preliminary technique in forensic toxicology.