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High-throughput and Comprehensive Drug Surveillance Using Multisegment Injection-Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry
Published on: April 23, 2019
A study of drug detection in a postmortem pediatric population
Claire Naso1, Amanda J Jenkins, Douglas Younger
1The Office of the Cuyahoga County Coroner, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
Journal of Forensic Sciences
|February 21, 2008
Summary
Toxicological testing in pediatric deaths revealed that 38% of cases had detectable drugs. Resuscitative drugs were most common, but testing for illicit drugs and ethanol is recommended in pediatric postmortem investigations.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Toxicology
- Pediatric Pathology
- Public Health
Background:
- Autopsies and toxicological testing are standard for decedents under 19 at the Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office.
- A significant number of pediatric deaths warrant investigation into potential toxicological contributions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To retrospectively evaluate drug findings in a pediatric postmortem population.
- To identify patterns in drug detection and their relation to cause of death.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of autopsy and toxicological data from 730 pediatric decedents (1998-2002).
- Examination of demographic data, cause/manner of death, and toxicology results.
- Comprehensive testing was performed on 640 cases.
Main Results:
- 38% of tested cases (640) were positive for at least one compound.
- Resuscitative/treatment drugs were most frequent (56%), followed by illicit drugs (26%) and ethanol (11%).
- Drug-related deaths accounted for 6% of the total cases.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric postmortem toxicology reveals frequent detection of various drug classes.
- Targeting illicit drugs and ethanol for testing is advisable, particularly with limited specimen availability.
- Findings inform targeted toxicological screening in pediatric death investigations.
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