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Requirements for bioanalytical procedures in postmortem toxicology.

Olaf H Drummer1

  • 1Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, Southbank, VIC 3006, Australia. olaf@vifm.org

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry
|March 23, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Postmortem toxicology analysis requires validated methods due to degraded specimens. Chromatographic screening, including gas chromatography (GC) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), is crucial for identifying substances and their role in death.

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Area of Science:

  • Forensic Toxicology
  • Analytical Chemistry

Background:

  • Postmortem toxicology presents unique analytical challenges due to specimen variability and degradation.
  • Standardized specimen collection, including peripheral blood and complementary samples like urine or vitreous humor, is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To outline essential analytical techniques for postmortem toxicology.
  • To emphasize the importance of method validation for diverse postmortem specimens.
  • To guide the selection of appropriate screening and confirmation methods.

Main Methods:

  • Substance screening using gas chromatography (GC) and liquid chromatography (LC)-mass spectrometry (MS/MS).
  • Utilizing immunoassay techniques for common drugs-of-abuse.
  • Employing complementary chromatographic methods (e.g., HPLC, LC-MS/MS) for comprehensive analyte coverage.

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  • Implementing substance-specific techniques for confirmation (e.g., GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS).

    • Main Results:

    • Chromatographic screening methods are vital for general unknown testing in postmortem toxicology.
    • Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is increasingly used for polar compounds and confirmation.
    • Effective isolation techniques, such as liquid extraction, are critical for sensitive LC-MS analysis.

    Conclusions:

    • Method validation is paramount in postmortem toxicology to ensure accurate results.
    • A combination of screening and confirmation techniques, often involving GC and LC-MS/MS, provides robust toxicological analysis.
    • Careful specimen selection and preparation are key to successful postmortem toxicological investigations.