Evaluation of hemaPEN® sampling device for measurement of cocaine and metabolites in capillary blood by LC-MS/MS.

Background

Dried blood spot sampling has been reported for on-site collection of specimens, but measurements are affected by blood hematocrit, and special handling is required, especially for forensic applications. The hemaPEN® blood collection device was developed to produce spots with constant volume.

Results

Linearity between 1 and 500 ng/ml was shown for cocaine and the metabolites benzoylecgonine and cocaethylene. The assay demonstrated acceptable precision and accuracy, and analytes were stable for 7 days when kept inside hemaPEN devices. Accuracy of the assay was affected by hematocrit but was within acceptable limits.

Conclusion

Use of the hemaPEN, which retains dried blood within the device, could be advantageous for the quantification of illicit drugs in capillary blood compared with conventional dried blood spot collection.