[Diagnostics and interpretation of results in forensic toxicology of amphetamines]

Amphetamine and its analogues belong to the large group of psychoactive compounds. Due to the growing problem of amphetamine poisoning, author decided to review and improve the laboratory diagnostic procedures with regard to forensic toxicology analysis.

Biological material of 8 persons taken during autopsy for routine toxicological tests was used to examine characteristic of biological matrix. Following excludion the presence of xenobiotics during expertise process, material was divided and kept in sealed containers, then analysed after defined time period: 0, 30 and 90 days. Blood, urine, liver, brain and kidney were considered, 96 samples were examined in total. Biological material was analysed using gas chromatography equipped with flame ionization detector (GC-FID), liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD), and magnetic resonance spectrometer (H NMR).

1. Workout analytical GC-FID method enable to verify positive initial result of amphetamine and metamphetamine analysis in urine. 2. Biological matrix is composed mainly of low molecular aliphatic organical compounds which cause significant impact in analytical and opinion problem in amphetamine analysis. Its influence determine in proportion as time of biological material self-decomposition and noted cross-reactivity concern both immunological and chromatographic methods (HPLC-DAD). 3. H NMR method may be used to confirm amphetamine presence in biological material for confirmation of positive results obtained using immunological and enzymatic methods used in forensic toxicology.