A Systematic Review of Solid-Phase Microextraction Applications in the Forensic Context.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Toxicology

Background:

• Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) has been a key advancement in forensic science since 1990.
• It provides a fast, solventless alternative to traditional extraction methods, enhancing forensic analysis versatility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the applications of SPME in forensic science between January 1995 and June 2018.
• To consolidate findings on SPME's utility in diverse forensic investigations.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review adhering to established guidelines.
• Analysis of 133 articles focusing on SPME applications in drug identification, fatality investigations, alcohol abuse markers, human odor profiling, and living individuals.

Main Results:

• SPME is widely used for drug identification (40/133 articles) and investigating fatalities (29/133 articles).
• Headspace SPME is preferred for detecting alcohol abuse markers (28/133 articles) and analyzing volatile organic compounds for odor profiling.
• Polydimethylsiloxane fibers and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) coupling are frequently employed.

Conclusions:

• SPME demonstrates significant success in analyzing both living and cadaveric biological samples.
• SPME findings, particularly for alcohol biomarkers in hair, are adopted by professional societies for abstinence verification and chronic alcohol consumption assessment.