Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

X-ray Diffraction of Biological Samples01:10

X-ray Diffraction of Biological Samples

4.4K
X-ray diffraction or XRD is an analytical tool that utilizes X-rays to study ordered structures such as crystalline organic and inorganic samples, polycrystalline materials, proteins, carbohydrates, and drugs.
According to Bragg's law, when X-rays strike the sample positioned on a stage, the rays are  scattered by the electron clouds around the sample atoms. The  X-ray diffraction or scattering is caused by constructive interference of the X-ray waves that reflect off the internal...
4.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Clamp the LAMP: a photoelectrochemical platform for KRAS mutation detection via wild-type blocking.

Biosensors & bioelectronics·2026
Same author

Seized party drugs: New substances, combination mixtures, and polydrug use.

Forensic science international·2025
Same author

Evaluation of Two Spectroscopic Techniques to Estimate the MDMA Dose of Ecstasy-Like Tablets, an On-Site Approach.

Drug testing and analysis·2025
Same author

Worth your sweat: wearable microfluidic flow rate sensors for meaningful sweat analytics.

Lab on a chip·2025
Same author

Tissue factor-bearing extracellular vesicles, procoagulant phospholipids and D-dimer as potential biomarkers for venous thromboembolism in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: A comprehensive analysis.

Thrombosis research·2025
Same author

Evaluation of spectroscopic techniques for on-site drug testing of festival seizures.

Drug testing and analysis·2024
Same journal

Technical note: Development of a UHPLC-MS/MS method for the analysis of hCG and IGF-I from dried blood spots: A preliminary study.

Forensic science international·2026
Same journal

A novel and robust deep learning model for sibling firearm matching.

Forensic science international·2026
Same journal

Changes in C-reactive protein levels over time in high-temperature environments using postmortem blood.

Forensic science international·2026
Same journal

Insights from the first synthetic cannabinoid clandestine lab dismantled in Brazil.

Forensic science international·2026
Same journal

Determination of the new psychoactive substances MDMB-4en-PINACA, ADB-BUTINACA and some of their metabolites in blood and urine using DLLE-LC-MS/MS: application to real forensic case samples.

Forensic science international·2026
Same journal

The revolver halo as a forensic marker: Raman spectroscopic evidence of primer-driven gunshot residue deposition.

Forensic science international·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Color Spot Test As a Presumptive Tool for the Rapid Detection of Synthetic Cathinones
06:06

Color Spot Test As a Presumptive Tool for the Rapid Detection of Synthetic Cathinones

Published on: February 5, 2018

Challenges for cocaine detection in smuggling samples.

J Eliaerts1, N Meert2, F Van Durme2

  • 1Department of Drugs and Toxicology, National Institute of Criminalistics and Criminology, Brussels, Belgium; AXES Research Group, Chemistry Department, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.

Forensic Science International
|December 28, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Standard cocaine screening tests failed to detect masked cocaine in smuggling cases. Sample preparation, like extraction, is crucial for accurate identification of illicit drugs.

Keywords:
ChemometricsCocaineColour testMid-infrared spectroscopySmuggling

More Related Videos

High-throughput and Comprehensive Drug Surveillance Using Multisegment Injection-Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry
10:17

High-throughput and Comprehensive Drug Surveillance Using Multisegment Injection-Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry

Published on: April 23, 2019

Sampling and Analysis of Animal Scent Signals
14:59

Sampling and Analysis of Animal Scent Signals

Published on: February 13, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Color Spot Test As a Presumptive Tool for the Rapid Detection of Synthetic Cathinones
06:06

Color Spot Test As a Presumptive Tool for the Rapid Detection of Synthetic Cathinones

Published on: February 5, 2018

High-throughput and Comprehensive Drug Surveillance Using Multisegment Injection-Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry
10:17

High-throughput and Comprehensive Drug Surveillance Using Multisegment Injection-Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry

Published on: April 23, 2019

Sampling and Analysis of Animal Scent Signals
14:59

Sampling and Analysis of Animal Scent Signals

Published on: February 13, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Science
  • Analytical Chemistry

Background:

  • Routine screening of seized cocaine often uses color tests and Mid-Infrared (MIR) spectroscopy.
  • Drug smugglers may process cocaine to evade detection, challenging conventional screening methods.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of current screening techniques (color test, MIR spectroscopy) for processed cocaine in smuggling cases.
  • To investigate the impact of sample preparation on the detection of masked cocaine.

Main Methods:

  • Applied cocaine color tests and MIR spectroscopy to five smuggling case samples.
  • Utilized Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID) for confirmation and quantification.
  • Performed Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) for characterization.
  • Tested sample extraction with acetone and ethyl acetate prior to screening.

Main Results:

  • All samples tested negative with the cocaine color test due to sample coloration and masking.
  • MIR spectroscopy with library search and chemometrics failed to detect cocaine in most samples.
  • GC-MS confirmed cocaine presence in all cases (0.8-35% concentration), indicating masked or chemically modified cocaine.
  • Sample extraction prior to screening yielded positive results with color tests and/or MIR spectroscopy.

Conclusions:

  • Standard screening techniques can produce false negatives for processed cocaine.
  • Chemically modified cocaine or mixtures with colored adulterants can mask the drug.
  • Sample preparation, such as extraction, is essential for reliable detection of illicit drugs.
  • Confirmation analyses (e.g., GC-MS) are critical for accurate identification of cocaine in forensic samples.