Detection of Phencyclidine in Medical Examiner's Cases

Abstract

Phencyclidine (PCP) was determined in blood, urine, and other biological specimens by gas-liquid chromatography using an OV-17 column after extraction with a n-butyl chloride:diethyl ether mixture. During the two-year-period 1976–1977, PCP was detected in 37 cases in the State of Maryland Medical Examiner's population. In two of these cases, death was directly attributable to acute intoxication from the drug (blood PCP concentrations—1.5 mg/L and 25 mg/L). In the other 35 cases in which PCP was not the primary cause of death, blood concentrations showed a median value of 0.1 mg/L (range: 0.02 to 0.7 mg/L). Phencyclidine is known to be capable of eliciting psychological and physiologic changes in an individual. Such alterations in mood and physical ability appear to be an important contributing factor in the deaths of PCP-intoxicated individuals.