Hyphenated liquid chromatographic techniques in forensic toxicology

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Toxicology

Background:

• Hyphenated methods in forensic analysis require "final maturity" for broad applicability.
• High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) has reached this stage.
• HPLC coupled with atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-API-MS) is still under development but advancing rapidly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current status and future potential of hyphenated chromatographic techniques in forensic toxicology.
• To highlight the advancements and applications of HPLC-DAD and HPLC-API-MS.

Main Methods:

• Review of the application of HPLC-DAD for identification of toxicological substances.
• Evaluation of the development and application of HPLC-API-MS (using ESI and APCI) for forensic analysis.
• Discussion of data exchange strategies like retention index scales and databases.

Main Results:

• HPLC-DAD is a well-established identification tool in forensic and emergency toxicology, with commercially available systems.
• HPLC-API-MS, utilizing electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), has shown significant development.
• HPLC-API-MS is crucial for analyzing substances inaccessible to other techniques, such as polar metabolites and macromolecules.

Conclusions:

• HPLC-DAD is a mature and widely used technique for toxicological identification.
• HPLC-API-MS is a powerful, developing technique with broad applications in forensic toxicology, especially for polar compounds and macromolecules.
• The integration of HPLC-API-MS into systematic toxicological screening is anticipated in the near future.