Drugs-of-Abuse Testing in Vitreous Humor

Abstract

Vitreous humor is a fluid contained in the eye that is largely composed of water. Its value for the postmortem analysis of ethanol has been well established. However, studies of drug disposition into vitreous humor are limited. This chapter reviews pertinent studies that have examined drug deposition into vitreous humor. The specific drugs/drug classes that are discussed include amphetamines, cocaine, THC, and opioids. Some of the advantages of vitreous humor as a matrix for drug analysis include the increased stability of certain drugs in this matrix and its amenability to analysis with little or no pretreatment. Disadvantages of vitreous humor analysis include a limited specimen volume and the limited interpretative value of analytical results.