NCJ Number
138350
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 37 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1992) Pages: 1125-1133
Date Published
1992
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study determined if the collection of single urine specimens for creatinine determination could be used to predict in vitro dilution of the specimen by water and possible adulteration by dilution in vivo of the specimen as a means of confounding laboratory findings for drug abuse.
Abstract
Creatinine analysis was performed on 350 urine specimens obtained from U.S. Navy recruit populations. Volunteer subjects were instructed to ingest fluids over a 12-hour period beginning in the morning. Creatinine analysis demonstrated that values obtained from single urine specimens fell almost in the same range as values obtained from 24-hour pooled specimens. Between 4 and 7 hours were required for a decrease in creatinine concentration to about 100 mg/dL or less. Thus, it appeared that creatinine output was sensitive to the amount of fluid ingested, but the relationship was neither linear nor immediate. It was determined that creatinine concentration may indicate possible adulteration of urine specimens by dilution as a means of avoiding the detection of drug abuse and that the absence of a significant creatinine concentration in a specimen may indicate direct or indirect adulteration of the specimen by dilution or replacement with water. 7 references, 2 tables, and 8 figures