Interactions entre les seringues non réutilisables et les médicaments: Migration d'un Accélérateur de Vulcanisation Benzothiazolique et de Composés Apparentés

Interactions between disposable syringes and drugs. Leaching of a benzothiazole vulcanization accelerator and related compounds)Disposable syringes (three brands) filled with water very quickly yielded one or more compounds with u.v. absorption peaks. The rubber plunger seals were identified as the source of contaminant. Their analysis by t.l.c. showed the presence of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, used as vulcanization accelerator. The compounds extracted into water were identified by mass spectrometry (electron impact and methane chemical ionization) as 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, 2-methylthiobenzothiazole, 2-hydroxybenzothiazole, 2-(2-hydroxyethylthio)benzothiazole and 2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)benzothiazole. The last three compounds were formed during sterilization of the syringes with ethylene oxide. The role of the precise nature of the vulcanization accelerator in this reaction is briefly described (zinc ions seem to be necessary), as are the analytical interferences resulting from the observed phenomena.