Authors: Johnson, Rudolph C.¹; Lemire, Sharon W.¹; Woolfitt, Adrian R.¹; Ospina, Maria¹; Preston, Kerry P.¹; Olson, Carl T.²; Barr, John R.¹

Source: Journal of Analytical Toxicology, Volume 29, Number 3, April 2005 , pp. 149-155(7)

Publisher: Preston Publications

Abstract:

Ricin is a toxalbumin derived from the castor bean plant, Ricinus communis. Ricinine is an alkaloid (3-cyano-4-methoxy-N-methyl-2-pyridone) that shares a common plant source with ricin, and its presence in urine infers ricin exposure. A new quantification method for ricinine was developed that uses solid-phase extraction to prepare 1-mL urine samples (81% recovery) for a 5-min, isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography method, followed by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Protonated molecular ions were selected in the multiple reaction monitoring mode and quantified by isotope dilution with 13C6-labelled ricinine as the internal reference. Urine pools enriched with ricinine at two concentrations were characterized as quality control materials and then used to validate the method. The method limit of quantification was 0.083 ng/mL, even with a confirmation ion of low relative abundance. Ricinine was stable in human urine when heated at 90°C for 1 h, and during storage at 25°C and 5°C for 3 weeks. The method was applied to an animal exposure study, a crude ricin preparation scheme, and a forensic analysis. These studies show that ricinine can be measured in rat urine at least 48 h after exposure. Ricinine is present in crude preparations of ricin, and it can be found in human urine after a lethal exposure to ricin.

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Division of Laboratory Sciences, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, Mailstop F47, Atlanta, Georgia 30341 2: Battelle Medical Research and Evaluation Facility, 505 King Avenue, JM-3, Columbus, Ohio 43201-2693

Publication date: 2005-04-01

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• The Journal of Analytical Toxicology (JAT), established in 1977 and published 9 times a year, is the international source covering a broad range of clinical, forensic, and industrial laboratory topics regarding the isolation, identification, and quantitation of potentially toxic substances.

  With an emphasis on practical application, JAT articles provide improved and novel techniques for use in clinical, forensic, workplace, sports testing (doping), and other toxicology laboratories. Articles describe newly developed methods in immunoassay testing, gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, atomic absorption spectrometry, solid and liquid phase extraction techniques, and other analytical approaches. Worldwide readership includes toxicologists, pathologists, chemists, clinicians, researchers, and educators working in medical examiner and law enforcement laboratories, hospitals, university and independent analytical laboratories, as well as the drug manufacturing industry.

  Each year in October, we publish a special issue from the Society of Forensic Toxicologists.

  JAT, as determined by ISI Citation Index, is one of the two most referenced international journals in forensic science.

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