Forensic application of an automated drug-profiling system

The rapid emergency drug identification (REMEDi) system is an automated drug-profiling system that employs high-performance liquid chromatography with a multicolumn design. It has previously proven successful in emergency toxicology situations and in the clinical analysis of urine and serum. Its capabilities include the broad spectrum identification of more than 500 basic, neutral, and slightly acidic drugs and metabolites. Forensic applications, including analysis of whole blood and tissue, were investigated, and comparisons with more traditional laboratory methods are reported. The whole blood and tissue samples require offline sample extraction prior to system analysis. Approximately 50 drugs were used as standards to test the preparation method, analytical system, and limit of detection. More than 50 cases from the medical examiner's office were analyzed with the combination extraction and automated drug-profiling system; these cases were compared with previously reported findings. Results showed that the REMEDi system is a useful complimentary tool for screening forensic cases; the current range of detectable drugs was expanded by using the system.