Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2026

High-throughput and Comprehensive Drug Surveillance Using Multisegment Injection-Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry
Published on: April 23, 2019
Multi target analysis of putrefactive specimens by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to prove multiple
Detlef Thieme1, Oliver Peschel, Florian Fischer
1Institute of Doping Analysis, Dresdner Str. 12, 01731 Kreischa, Germany. detlef.thieme@idas-kreischa.de
Abstract:
The muscle relaxant rocuronium and the hypnotics etomidate, diazepam and midazolam were candidate poisons in a case of a suspected series of fatal intoxications in a hospital. A robust, specific and sensitive multi-target screening procedure was established to identify unequivocally the parent compounds and diagnostic metabolites and artefacts in putrefied specimens, obtained from exhumed bodies. The analytical findings of relevant compounds could be traced partially back to authorised therapeutic measures, whereas the identification of rocuronium proved potentially lethal intoxications in 13 (of a total number of 42) cases. Moreover, the detection of certain hypnotics revealed an improper administration of these compounds in another nine cases, which suggested manipulation but was not indicative of fatal intoxications. Quantitative estimations of substance concentrations were highly correlated with the post-mortem time intervals and did not reveal any information on doses, initial serum concentrations or toxicological effects.
More Related Videos
08:56Detection of Regulated Ergot Alkaloids in Food Matrices by Liquid Chromatography-Trapped Ion Mobility Spectrometry-Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry
Published on: November 22, 2024
09:36Applications of Liquid-Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry in Natural Products Research: Tropane Alkaloids as a Case Study
Published on: March 8, 2024
Related Concept Videos
Mass Spectrometry: Complex Analysis
GC–MS is a powerful hyphenated method commonly used in forensics and environmental...
Toxidromes: Clinical Features
Rapid Identification of Pathogens
Peptide Identification Using Tandem Mass Spectrometry
This technique helps gather information regarding the protein from which the peptide was obtained and to study the peptides’ amino acid sequence. Identifying peptides from a complex mixture is an important component of the growing field of...