Technical field

This invention relates to extraction of narcotic compounds from a sample, in particular this invention relates to a novel composition, method and kit including the novel composition for extracting narcotic compounds from a biological sample. background

The extraction of narcotic compounds from biological matrices is an essential specimen preparation step in current forensic laboratories. Traditionally, liquid/liquid extractions (LLE) were developed and employed to screen for the general unknown as LLE are generally known in the art as useful for separating components of a mixture, wherein the constituents have differing polarities which can be separated when mixed within two immiscible solvents that form a liquid bilayer after mixing.

The expert in the field of forensic toxicology and chemistry cannot use any advance instrument such as gas chromatography and mass spectrometry without the step of preparation or extraction of the samples to get predictable compounds that entered the human body and further quantification is extremely difficult, hence extraction and preparation of the biological samples is considered as the backbone of the work in the toxicology and chemistry field anywhere in the world.

However, there is a general lack of information pertaining to the correct use and type of solvents used for extraction and this poses a serious problem as forensic laboratories cannot easily determine which is the best solvents needed for biological samples and conventional methods are time consuming, complex and costly. Moreover, conventional solvents used in the extraction do not cover all types of narcotic substances that are searched for in samples, as it is common cause that type of narcotic drugs tend to differ according to geographical area, resulting in either a plurality of tests or different methods to reach satisfactory results.

Furthermore, procurement problems are usually associated with procurement of certain types of solvents, said problems compounded with shelf lifetime restraints and difficulty in actual importation of certain types of solvents.

It is an object of the present invention to alleviate at least some of the disadvantages mentioned above. summary of the invention

According to the invention, there is provided a composition for extraction of narcotic compounds from a sample, said composition including a first liquid mixture and second solid composition: - the first liquid mixture having, a source of heptane, either n-heptane or heptane having mixed isomers and/or enantiomers thereof comprising from about 10% to about 25%, by weight of the liquid mixture, an organochloride compound being dichloromethane comprising from about 25% to about 35%, by weight of the liquid mixture, a chlorinated hydrocarbon being 1 ,2-Dichloroethane comprising from about 30% to about 45%, by weight of the liquid mixture, a source of liquid propane comprising from about 5% to about 21 %, by weight of the liquid mixture, the second solid composition; having a source of sodium chloride, comprising from about 16% to about 63 %, by weight of the second solid composition, a source of sodium carbonate, comprising from about 17 % to about 34 %, by weight of the second solid composition, a source of sodium bi carbonate, comprising from about 17% to about 50 %, by weight of the second solid composition, wherein the second solid composition is added to the first liquid mixture in sufficient amount to enable a final composition to have a pH of between 8 and 10.

In one formulation the final composition may have a pH of 9.

In one formulation the source of heptane may have a volume of between 1 and 1 .4 micro litre.

In one formulation the dichloro methane solvent may have a volume of between 0.7 and 2 micro litre.

In one formulation the dichloro ethane solvent may have a volume of between 0.7 and 4 micro litre.

In one formulation the liquid propane may have a volume of between 0.5 and 4 micro litre.

In one formulation the sodium chloride may have a mass of between 0.5 and 1 grams. In one formulation the sodium carbonate may have a mass of between 0.15 and 1 grams.

The sodium bi carbonate may have a mass of between 0.15 and 1 grams.

In yet another formulation the sodium chloride, sodium carbonate and sodium bi-carbonate may be in the form of a powder.

The sample may be in the form of any one or more of the group including a biological sample, a petroleum sample, an ink sample, a dye sample, an organic sample or the like.

The biological sample may be selected from the group including blood, urine, tissue, stomach contents or the like.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit for extraction of narcotic compounds from a sample including: - a composition having a first liquid mixture and second solid composition as hereinbefore described; and a tube which is configured to contain the composition therein and further be configured to receive a sample for extraction of narcotic compounds from the sample.

The sample may be in the form of any one or more of the group including a biological sample, a petroleum sample, an ink sample, a dye sample, an organic sample or the like.

The tube may be a pathology tube. The biological sample may be selected from the group including blood, urine, tissue, stomach contents or the like.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for extraction of narcotic compounds from a sample, said method including the following steps: providing a tube having a composition therein, said composition having a first liquid mixture and second solid composition as hereinbefore described; and adding a desired biological sample to the tube.

In one formulation the sample may be a 5ml urine sample.

An additional step may include vortexing the tube for at least 2 minutes.

Yet another step may include centrifuging the tube for at least 3 minutes at a speed of at least 4000 rpm.

A still further step may include additional centrifuging of the tube for another 3 minutes at a speed of at least 4000 rpm.

A still further step may include transferring the upper layer of the fluid inside the tube and evaporating said upper layer at 40 degrees Celsius under nitrogen.

A further step may include re-constitution of the residue using 50 micro litres of ethyl acetate. A further step may include extracting 2 micro litres of extract and injecting said extract into the confirmatory instrument.

In one formulation the confirmatory instrument may be a gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A composition, method and kit for extracting a narcotic compound from a biological sample in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of the following, non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: -

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a kit for extraction of narcotic compounds from a sample, in accordance with a second aspect of the invention, including a composition having a first liquid mixture and second solid composition as described in accordance with a first aspect of the invention;

Figure 2 is another perspective view of a kit as shown in Figure 1 , wherein the first liquid mixture and second solid composition has been mixed to form a final composition;

Figure 3 is another perspective view of a kit as shown in Figure 2, wherein, is use, a sample is added to the final composition; and

Figure 4 is a schematic showing a flow diagram of a method in accordance with a third aspect of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a composition for extraction of narcotic compounds from a sample, said composition including a first liquid mixture and second solid composition, the first liquid mixture having, a source of heptane, either n-heptane or heptane having mixed isomers and/or enantiomers thereof comprising from about 10% to about 25%, by weight of the liquid mixture, an organochloride compound being dichloromethane comprising from about 25% to about 35%, by weight of the liquid mixture, a chlorinated hydrocarbon being 1 ,2- Dichloroethane comprising from about 30% to about 45%, by weight of the liquid mixture, a source of liquid propane comprising from about 5% to about 21 %, by weight of the liquid mixture, the second solid composition, having a source of sodium chloride, comprising from about 16% to about 63 %, by weight of the second solid composition, a source of sodium carbonate, comprising from about 17 % to about 34 %, by weight of the second solid composition, a source of sodium bi carbonate, comprising from about 17% to about 50 %, by weight of the second solid composition, wherein the second solid composition is added to the first liquid mixture in sufficient amount to enable a final composition to have a pH of between 8 and 10.

In one formulation the final composition has a pH of 9.

The source of heptane has a volume of between 1 and 1 .4 micro litre.

The dichloro methane solvent has a volume of between 0.7 and 2 micro litre.

The dichloro ethane solvent has a volume of between 0.7 and 4 micro litre.

The liquid propane has a volume of between 0.5 and 4 micro litre.

The sodium chloride has a mass of between 0.5 and 1 grams.

The sodium carbonate has a mass of between 0.15 and 1 grams. The sodium bi carbonate has a mass of between 0.15 and 1 grams.

The sodium chloride, sodium carbonate and sodium bi-carbonate is in the form of a powder.

The sample is in the form of any one or more of the group including a biological sample, a petroleum sample, an ink sample, a dye sample, an organic sample or the like.

The biological sample is selected from the group including blood, urine, tissue, stomach contents or the like.

According to a second aspect of the invention, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, there is provided a kit 100 for extraction of narcotic compounds from a sample including a composition 1 10 having a first liquid mixture 114 and second solid composition 1 16 as hereinbefore described, and a tube 1 18 which is configured to contain the composition 1 10 therein and further be configured to receive a sample 1 12 for extraction of narcotic compounds from the sample 1 12.

The sample 1 12 is in the form of any one or more of the group including a biological sample, a petroleum sample, an ink sample, a dye sample, an organic sample or the like.

The tube 1 18 is a pathology tube.

The biological sample 1 12 is selected from the group including blood, urine, tissue, stomach contents or the like. As shown in Figure 4, according to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method 200 for extraction of narcotic compounds from a sample, said method including the following steps, providing a tube 218 having a composition 210 therein, said composition 210 having a first liquid mixture 214 and second solid composition 216 as hereinbefore described, and adding a desired biological sample 212 to the tube 218.

In one formulation the desired biological sample 212 is a 5ml urine sample.

The method 200 further includes the step 201 of vortexing the tube 218 for at least 2 minutes.

Yet another step 202 includes centrifuging the tube 218 for at least 3 minutes at a speed of at least 4000 rpm.

A still further step 203 includes additional centrifuging of the tube 218 for another 3 minutes at a speed of at least 4000 rpm.

A still further step 204 includes transferring the upper layer of the fluid inside the tube 218 and evaporating said upper layer at 40 degrees Celsius under nitrogen.

A further step 205 includes re-constitution of the residue using 50 micro litres of ethyl acetate.

A further step 206 includes extracting 2 micro litres of extract and injecting said extract into the confirmatory instrument 220. The confirmatory instrument 220 is a gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Although only certain formulations of the invention have been described herein, it will be understood by any person skilled in the art that other modifications, variations, and possibilities of the invention are possible. Such modifications, variations and possibilities are therefore to be considered as falling within the spirit and scope of the invention and hence form part of the invention as herein described and/or exemplified. It is further to be understood that the examples are provided for illustrating the invention further and to assist a person skilled in the art with understanding the invention and is not meant to be construed as unduly limiting the reasonable scope of the invention.

The inventor believes that the composition, method and kit for extracting a narcotic compound from a biological sample in accordance with the present invention is advantageous in that provides an easy, convenient and quick way to extract a narcotic compound from a biological sample. The invention is further advantageous in that it allows for reduced reliance on foreign products. Yet furthermore, the invention is advantageous in that it allows for a large variety and range of narcotic compounds to be extracted from a biological sample. The invention provides an extracted narcotic compound with a high degree of purity which allows the life of the advanced instrument, such as a gas and liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, that used in the process of confirmatory tests to be extended.