1
|
de Lima LF, de Araujo WR. A highly efficient and portable laser-scribed graphene-based electrochemical system for forensic-oriented determination of acepromazine. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2023; 15:4467-4476. [PMID: 37644817 DOI: 10.1039/d3ay00815k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Acepromazine (ACP) is a phenothiazine derivative drug commonly used as a tranquilizer veterinary medication due to its sedative properties. Benefiting from sedative properties, ACP has emerged as a drug of abuse and has been associated with drug-facilitated sexual assaults. Herein, we report, for the first time, the electrochemical behavior of ACP using a miniaturized and environmentally friendly laser-scribed graphene-based (LSG) sensor fabricated on a polyetherimide (PEI) substrate. The LSG device presented high porosity, as demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements of the PEI-LSG electrode confirmed the enhanced electroactive area (3.1-fold increase) caused by the rough surface and revealed a low charge transfer resistance of the electrode material, with a heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k0) of 8.66 × 10-3 cm s-1 for potassium ferricyanide redox probe. A simple and accurate method was applied to quantify ACP by using square wave voltammetry (SWV) under optimized experimental conditions, which exhibited high sensitivity (0.686 ± 0.008 A L mol-1 cm-2) and a low limit of detection (LOD) of 7.43 × 10-8 mol L-1, with a linear concentration ranging from 0.5 to 100 μmol L-1 ACP. Aiming for on-site analysis, the PEI-LSG sensor was integrated with a miniaturized potentiostat controlled by using a smartphone and applied as proof of applicability to ACP detection in commercial beverage and synthetic urine samples. These studies demonstrated adequate recoveries, ranging from 95.1% to 115.8%. The analytical parameters highlight the robustness and reliability of the proposed method for analyses of ACP directly at a potential crime scene.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucas F de Lima
- Portable Chemical Sensors Lab, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, State University of Campinas - UNICAMP, P.O. Box 6154, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
| | - William R de Araujo
- Portable Chemical Sensors Lab, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, State University of Campinas - UNICAMP, P.O. Box 6154, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sasaki K, Shima N, Kamata T, Ishikawa A, Nitta A, Wada M, Nakano-Fujii S, Kakehashi H, Sato T, Katagi M. Incorporation of five common hypnotics into hair after a single dose and application to a forensic case of drug facilitated crimes. Forensic Sci Int 2021; 325:110881. [PMID: 34237583 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
In order to obtain fundamental information on the disposition of hypnotics into hair after a single oral dose the quantitative hair analysis of triazolam (TZ), etizolam (EZ), flunitrazepam (FNZ), nitrazepam (NZ) and zolpidem (ZP) have been performed using a validated LC-MS/MS procedure. Hair specimens (straight, black) were collected from three subjects about one month and three months after a single 0.25 mg dose of TZ, 1 mg of EZ, 2 mg of FNZ, 5 mg of NZ and 10 mg of ZP tartrate. The subjects ingested just one out of five different hypnotics on each day, each of five days in turn. All ingested hypnotics have been detected in hair from each subject both one month and three months after intake, and their concentrations were in the range of 0.023-0.043 pg/hair strand (0.077-0.36 pg/mg) for TZ, 0.11-0.63 pg/hair strand (0.44-5.2 pg/mg) for EZ, 0.14-2.6 pg/hair strand (0.56-22 pg/mg) for FNZ, 0.33-1.7 pg/hair strand (1.3-17 pg/mg) for NZ and 20-40 pg/hair strand (120-270 pg/mg) for ZP. For FNZ and NZ, not only the parent drugs but also their metabolites, 7-amino-FNZ and 7-amino-NZ, were detected in the range of 2.3-9.2 pg/hair strand (9.2-82 pg/mg) and 2.4-9.1 pg/hair strand (8.0-55 pg/mg), respectively. The calculated incorporation ratios into hair against the dose were found to exhibit similarity between the four benzodiazepines. This finding suggests the ability to apply these quantitative data to approximately estimating the amounts of other benzodiazepines, which have similar chemical structures, in hair although it should be noted that the amounts of drugs in hair varies considerably depending on the hair color. On the other hand, the incorporation ratio of ZP showed 15-29 times higher than that of TZ, indicating that lipophilic ZP was more likely to incorporate into hair than benzodiazepines. In addition, the application of the present data to a drug-facilitated sexual assault was shown.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Sasaki
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, 1-3-18 Hommachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 541-0053, Japan.
| | - Noriaki Shima
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, 1-3-18 Hommachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 541-0053, Japan
| | - Tooru Kamata
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, 1-3-18 Hommachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 541-0053, Japan
| | - Akari Ishikawa
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, 1-3-18 Hommachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 541-0053, Japan
| | - Atsushi Nitta
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, 1-3-18 Hommachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 541-0053, Japan
| | - Misato Wada
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, 1-3-18 Hommachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 541-0053, Japan
| | - Shihoko Nakano-Fujii
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, 1-3-18 Hommachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 541-0053, Japan
| | - Hidenao Kakehashi
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, 1-3-18 Hommachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 541-0053, Japan
| | - Takako Sato
- Division of Preventive and Social Medicine, Department of Legal Medicine, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2-7 Daigaku-machi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan
| | - Munehiro Katagi
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, 1-3-18 Hommachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 541-0053, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Torazzi E, Merelli V, Barbara G, Kustermann A, Marasciuolo L, Collini F, Cattaneo C. Similarity and Differences in Sexual Violence Against Adolescents and Adult Women: The Need to Focus on Adolescent Victims. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 2021; 34:302-310. [PMID: 33259887 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpag.2020.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE To explore whether there are differences in characteristics, clinical findings and management in cases of sexual violence in adolescent and adult women. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING SVSeD-Service for Sexual and Domestic Violence, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. PARTICIPANTS Female victims of sexual violence aged 10 years and older. Two study groups were analysed: an adolescent group and an adult group. INTERVENTIONS None; this was an observational study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Characteristics of the perpetrator, time spent between the episode of sexual violence and the access to SVSeD, presence of genital and/or extragenital injuries; tests for sexually transmitted diseases, spermatozoa research; and toxicological screening; RESULTS: Adolescent victims of sexual violence requested help later than the adult victims. The majority of the perpetrators were well known to the victims in both groups. In both groups, we observed genital injuries in 1 of 3 patients. We found a strong association between the presence of genital injuries and a positive screening test for sexually transmitted diseases, in particular with regard to the adolescent victims. CONCLUSION Adolescents' delayed disclosure of sexual violence may affect the ability to properly manage these crimes. Prevention programs and public awareness campaigns should be implemented to highlight the importance of a prompt disclosure after sexual assault has occurred. Gynecologists should be made increasingly aware of this delicate issue, to better assist victims of sexual violence, especially adolescent victims.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Torazzi
- Department of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Vera Merelli
- Department of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Milan, and of SVSeD (Service for Sexual and Domestic Violence), Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Giussy Barbara
- Gynecological Unit and SVSeD (Service for Sexual and Domestic Violence), Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Kustermann
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Emergency Department and SVSeD (Service for Sexual and Domestic Violence), Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Marasciuolo
- Department of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Milan, and of SVSeD (Service for Sexual and Domestic Violence), Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Collini
- Department of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Milan, and of SVSeD (Service for Sexual and Domestic Violence), Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Cattaneo
- Department of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Milan, and of SVSeD (Service for Sexual and Domestic Violence), Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hakim F, Chianea T, Sturtz F, Paraf F, Gaulier JM. Interpretation of the toxicological findings in a probably Energy drink intake-related fatality. TOXICOLOGIE ANALYTIQUE ET CLINIQUE 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxac.2020.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
|
5
|
Kintz P, Ameline A, Raul JS. Administration cachée de chlorphéniramine à un enfant de 5 ans : la preuve par les ongles. TOXICOLOGIE ANALYTIQUE ET CLINIQUE 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxac.2019.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
|
6
|
Joo YS, Lee HJ, Choi JS, Sung KW. Acepromazine inhibits hERG potassium ion channels expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF PHARMACOLOGY 2017; 21:75-82. [PMID: 28066143 PMCID: PMC5214913 DOI: 10.4196/kjpp.2017.21.1.75] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Revised: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The effects of acepromazine on human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG) potassium channels were investigated using whole-cell voltage-clamp technique in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells transfected with hERG. The hERG currents were recorded with or without acepromazine, and the steady-state and peak tail currents were analyzed for the evaluating the drug effects. Acepromazine inhibited the hERG currents in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 1.5 µM and Hill coefficient of 1.1. Acepromazine blocked hERG currents in a voltage-dependent manner between –40 and +10 mV. Before and after application of acepromazine, the half activation potentials of hERG currents changed to hyperpolarizing direction. Acepromazine blocked both the steady-state hERG currents by depolarizing pulse and the peak tail currents by repolarizing pulse; however, the extent of blocking by acepromazine in the repolarizing pulse was more profound than that in the depolarizing pulse, indicating that acepromazine has a high affinity for the open state of the channels, with a relatively lower affinity for the closed state of hERG channels. A fast application of acepromazine during the tail currents inhibited the open state of hERG channels in a concentration-dependent. The steady-state inactivation of hERG currents shifted to the hyperpolarized direction by acepromazine. These results suggest that acepromazine inhibits the hERG channels probably by an open- and inactivated-channel blocking mechanism. Regarding to the fact that the hERG channels are the potential target of drug-induced long QT syndrome, our results suggest that acepromazine can possibly induce a cardiac arrhythmia through the inhibition of hERG channels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Young Shin Joo
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
| | - Hong Joon Lee
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
| | - Jin-Sung Choi
- College of Pharmacy, Integrated Research Institute of Pharmaceutical, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 14662, Korea
| | - Ki-Wug Sung
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Algren DA, Ashworth A. Acute acepromazine overdose: clinical effects and toxicokinetic evaluation. J Med Toxicol 2015; 11:121-3. [PMID: 25059809 DOI: 10.1007/s13181-014-0416-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Acepromazine is a phenothiazine that is used exclusively in veterinary medicine for multiple purposes. Human overdoses are rarely reported and toxicokinetic data has never been reported. We present a case of intentional acepromazine overdose resulting in central nervous system and cardiovascular toxicity with confirmatory toxicokinetic data. CASE REPORT A 54-year-old woman intentionally ingested 950 mg of her dog's acepromazine. Within 3 h of ingestion, she developed central nervous system and respiratory depression along with hypotension requiring non-invasive ventilation and vasopressors. Clinical toxicity resolved over the following 8 h. Serial plasma acepromazine levels were determined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The initial acepromazine level (1-h post-ingestion) was 63 ng/ml. Follow-up levels at 8-, 10.5-, and 13.5-h post-ingestion were 8.9 ng/ml, 7.6 ng/ml, and 6.3 ng/ml, respectively. DISCUSSION Human acepromazine toxicity is rarely reported but results in clinical toxicity (central nervous system depression, respiratory depression, hypotension) are similar to other phenothiazines. Compared to other phenothiazines, it appears to have a short elimination half-life that may account for the brief duration of clinical toxicity with relatively rapid improvement. No significant human cardiac toxicity has been reported. Treatment is supportive. CONCLUSION This case highlights the unique toxicity of acepromazine in demonstrating rapid improvement of severe toxicity within 8 h consistent with a short elimination half-life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Adam Algren
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology/Medical Toxicology, Children's Mercy Hospital, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA,
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Xiang P, Shen M, Drummer OH. Review: Drug concentrations in hair and their relevance in drug facilitated crimes. J Forensic Leg Med 2015; 36:126-35. [PMID: 26454219 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2015.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Revised: 09/06/2015] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Segmental hair analysis can provide valuable retrospective information on the history of drug exposure in victims of drug facilitated crimes (DFC). This is now possible with availability of sensitive tandem MS techniques such as GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS allowing drugs to be detected at pg/mg concentrations after a single dose. In this review hair concentrations of 35 psychoactive drugs given in 20 controlled dose studies are reviewed and compared to the 25 different drugs detected in reported case work. The most common drugs were the benzodiazepines and related hypnotics, gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), ketamine and methamphetamine. Those concentrations reported in DFC were mostly similar or higher than that seen in controlled dose studies. The factors that affecting interpretation of segmental hair results including hair color, growth rates, sample preparation and surface contamination are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ping Xiang
- Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, 65 Kavanagh Street, Southbank, VIC 3006, Australia; Department of Forensic Toxicology, Institute of Forensic Sciences, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, China
| | - Min Shen
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Institute of Forensic Sciences, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, China
| | - Olaf H Drummer
- Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, 65 Kavanagh Street, Southbank, VIC 3006, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Dulaurent S, Gaulier J, Imbert L, Morla A, Lachâtre G. Simultaneous determination of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, cannabinol and 11-nor-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid in hair using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Forensic Sci Int 2014; 236:151-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2013] [Revised: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 01/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
10
|
Role of LC-MS/MS in hair testing for the determination of common drugs of abuse and other psychoactive drugs. Bioanalysis 2013; 5:1919-38. [PMID: 23905865 DOI: 10.4155/bio.13.132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hair testing has been used in toxicological investigations for the last two decades, but only recently a remarkable extension of hair analysis to a variety of application fields was observed, besides drug abuse recognition. The dramatic improvements of LC-MS/MS instrumentation make the detection of tiny amounts of almost whatever drug in hair possible, even after single-dose intake. The progresses observed during the last 5 years in the detection of psychoactive substances in hair are reviewed herein. The literature is partitioned according to the target compounds, namely traditional drugs of abuse, new psychoactive substances and pharmaceutical psychoactive substances. The LC-MS/MS methods presented are addressed to determine a single class of drugs, with the primary aim of accurate quantitation, or to perform multiclass analysis, for rapid and effective screening protocols.
Collapse
|
11
|
Vincenti M, Salomone A, Gerace E, Pirro V. Application of mass spectrometry to hair analysis for forensic toxicological investigations. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2013; 32:312-32. [PMID: 23165962 DOI: 10.1002/mas.21364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2012] [Revised: 08/22/2012] [Accepted: 08/22/2012] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The increasing role of hair analysis in forensic toxicological investigations principally owes to recent improvements of mass spectrometric instrumentation. Research achievements during the last 6 years in this distinctive application area of analytical toxicology are reviewed. The earlier state of the art of hair analysis was comprehensively covered by a dedicated book (Kintz, 2007a. Analytical and practical aspects of drug testing in hair. Boca Raton: CRC Press and Taylor & Francis, 382 p) that represents key reference of the present overview. Whereas the traditional organization of analytical methods in forensic toxicology divided target substances into quite homogeneous groups of drugs, with similar structures and chemical properties, the current approach often takes advantage of the rapid expansion of multiclass and multiresidue analytical procedures; the latter is made possible by the fast operation and extreme sensitivity of modern mass spectrometers. This change in the strategy of toxicological analysis is reflected in the presentation of the recent literature material, which is mostly based on a fit-for-purpose logic. Thus, general screening of unknown substances is applied in diverse forensic contexts than drugs of abuse testing, and different instrumentation (triple quadrupoles, time-of-flight analyzers, linear and orbital traps) is utilized to optimally cope with the scope. Other key issues of modern toxicology, such as cost reduction and high sample throughput, are discussed with reference to procedural and instrumental alternatives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Vincenti
- Centro Regionale Antidoping e di Tossicologia A. Bertinaria, Orbassano, Turin, Italy.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Surprising hair analysis results following acute carbofuran intoxication. Forensic Sci Int 2011; 212:e10-4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2011] [Revised: 05/09/2011] [Accepted: 05/09/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
|
13
|
Hair: a complementary source of bioanalytical information in forensic toxicology. Bioanalysis 2011; 3:67-79. [PMID: 21175368 DOI: 10.4155/bio.10.171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hair has been used for years in the assessment and documentation of human exposure to drugs, as it presents characteristics that make it extremely valuable for this purpose, namely the fact that sample collection is performed in a noninvasive manner, under close supervision, the possibility of collecting a specimen reflecting a similar timeline in the case of claims or suspicion of a leak in the chain of custody, and the increased window of detection for the drugs. For these reasons, testing for drugs in hair provides unique and useful information in several fields of toxicology, from which the most prominent is the possibility of studying individual drug use histories by means of segmental analysis. This paper will review the unique role of hair as a complementary sample in documenting human exposure to drugs in the fields of clinical and forensic toxicology and workplace drug testing.
Collapse
|
14
|
Retrospective drug detection in cases of drug-facilitated sexual assault: challenges and perspectives for the forensic toxicologist. Bioanalysis 2009; 1:1001-13. [DOI: 10.4155/bio.09.70] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Reported incidences of drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) are on the increase worldwide. These cases represent a particular challenge for the forensic toxicologist due to the difficulty in obtaining adequate evidence of drug administration. Primarily, this is due to the nature and diversity of the drugs involved, their pharmacology and sampling timescales. Evaluating whether a drug has been administered to a victim for the purpose of sexual assault can often be difficult, if not impossible. This review draws attention to this burgeoning crime and focuses on the unique challenges DFSA cases present in terms of evidential analysis. Current analytical methodologies for investigating DFSA are highlighted and discussed along with developments in improving analytical procedures. In particular, enlarging detection windows by adopting emerging LC–MS techniques is also discussed. This review also highlights the use of cutting-edge technologies such as ultra-HPLC and the use of alternative matrices for addressing the problem of improved retrospective drug detection.
Collapse
|