A simple method for quantifying fentanyl, sufentanil, or morphine in discard syringes from anesthesia procedures.

Abstract

Fentanyl, sufentanil, and morphine are commonly used in the conduct of anesthesia. Medical staff working with these drugs are at high risk of addiction. To detect and prevent diversion, a method was developed to quantify these drugs in discard syringes using the BioRad REMEDi HS Drug Profiling System. For fentanyl, the lowest concentration detected is 0.1 microg/mL, and the assay is linear to 5.0 microg/mL; the within-run coefficient of variation (CV) is 0.9% (n = 5), and between-run CV is 2.5% (n = 20). For sufentanil, the lowest concentration detected is 0.5 microg/mL, and the assay is linear to 11.0 microg/mL; the within-run CV is 2.0% (n = 5), and the between-run CV is 2.4% (n = 20). For morphine, the lowest concentration detected is 0.5 microg/mL, and the assay is linear to 10.0 microg/mL; the within-run CV is 11.6% (n = 5), and between-run CV is 11.3% (n = 20). Other drugs commonly used in the operating room were checked for cross-reactivity on the REMEDi HS; none cross-reacted. The REMEDi HS can be used for rapid, accurate quantification of fentanyl, sufentanil, and morphine in discard syringes from anesthesia procedures or related medical applications.