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Table 3 Characteristics of included studies (drugs of abuse)

From: Prevalence of prenatal exposure to substances of abuse: questionnaire versus biomarkers

DRUGS OF ABUSE

Author (reference, year, country)

Objective

Sample size

Questionnaire

Matrix Biomarker- Method (cut-off)

Comments

Garcia Algar et al. (30) (2009) (Spain)

To determine the prevalence of illegal drug use by pregnant women and subsequent foetal exposure

N(BQ) = 1209

Structured questionnaire for gestational alcohol and drugs consumption

Meconium

COC - LC-MS and GC-MS (>3 ng/g)

MOR- LC-MS and GC-MS (>4 ng/g)

BE - LC-MS and GC-MS (>4 ng/g)

THC - LC-MS and GC-MS (>20 ng/g)

AMP - LC-MS and GC-MS (>5 ng/g)

MDMA - LC-MS and GC-MS (>4 ng/g)

 

Hutson et al. (22) (2010) (Uruguay)

To determine the incidence of prenatal alcohol and drug exposure in public health care sector

N(B) = 905

N(Q) = 900

Structured questionnaire for gestational alcohol and drugs consumption

Meconium

COC - ELISA (>80 ng/g)

BE- ELISA (>80 ng/g)

THC - ELISA (>50 ng/g)

AMP - ELISA (>100 ng/g)

MDMA

 

Bessa et al. (11) (2010) (Brazil)

To check the validity of the self-report of drug use by pregnant adolescents, by comparing their responses to a structured interview about their use of cocaine and marijuana during the pregnancy with an analysis of their hair

N(BQ) = 1000

Structured questionnaire for gestational alcohol and drugs consumption

Hair

COC - ELISA (>0.20 ng/mg)

OP - ELISA (>0.20 ng/mg)

AMP - ELISA (>0.50 ng/mg)

EX -ELISA (>0.50 ng/mg)

all positive samples -GC-MS

 

Friguls et al. (26) (2012) (Spain)

GarcĂ­a-Serra et al. (16) (2012) (Spain)

1: To estimate prevalence of drug use by pregnant women in Ibiza (Friguls)

2: To compare two biological matrices (maternal hair and meconium) to assess prenatal exposure to drugs of abuse in the third trimester of pregnancy (Garcia-Serra)

3: To evaluate the clinical applicability of these biological matrices

(Garcia-Serra)

N(BQ) = 107

Structured questionnaire for gestational alcohol and drugs consumption

Hair

COC - ELISA (>0.20 ng/mg)

OP - ELISA (>0.20 ng/mg)

AMP - ELISA (>0.50 ng/mg)

EX -ELISA (>0.50 ng/mg)

all positive samples -GC-MS

Meconium:

COC - LC-MS and GC-MS (>3 ng/g)

BE - LC-MS and GC-MS (>4 ng/g)

THC - LC-MS and GC-MS (20 ng/g)

AMP - LC-MS and GC-MS (>5 ng/g)

MDMA - LC-MS and GC-MS (>4 ng/g)

Drug exposure was defined as categorical (yes/no)

Joya et al. (32) (2012) (Spain)

To estimate prevalence of drug use by pregnant women in Tenerife Island

N(BQ) = 347

Structured questionnaire for gestational alcohol and drugs consumption

Hair

COC - ELISA (>0.20 ng/mg)

OP - ELISA (>0.20 ng/mg)

AMP - ELISA (>0.50 ng/mg)

EX -ELISA (>0.50 ng/mg)

all positive samples -GC-MS

 

Lendoiro et al. (18) (2013) (Spain)

The aim of this work was to compare maternal interview and hair analysis to determine drug consumption throughout pregnancy and to study relations among maternal interview, hair results, and neonatal outcomes

N(BQ) = 209

Structured questionnaire for gestational alcohol and drugs consumption

Hair

COC - LC-MS and GC-MS (>500 pg/ng)

MOR- LC-MS and GC-MS (>200 pg/ng)

BE - LC-MS and GC-MS (>50 pg/ng)

THC - LC-MS and GC-MS (>50 pg/ng)

MDMA - LC-MS and GC-MS (>200 pg/ng)

 
  1. COC cocaine, BE benzoylecognine, THC tetrahydrocannabinol, AMP amphetamine, MDMA metamphetamine, OP opiates, EX extasis, MOR morphine