Forensic cases

Figure 9.8 Trace element profile along a single hair using LA-ICP-MS. The horizontal axis refers to the tracking time of the laser along the hair, which equates to distance, (a) shows lead along individual hairs from different depositional environments A is a modern sample, B is an experimentally buried modern sample, C is from a surface-exposed (8 months) forensic case, and D is an archaeological sample (died 1867). (b) shows arsenic from three of these same samples. There is clearly postdepositional uptake of both elements in the archaeological samples, and in these particular examples little evidence of lateral variation.

Microsatellites-the repeated units are typically 2-4 bp, and the length of the entire repeat is generally less than 150 bp. This dass often referred to as STRs (simple tandem repeats) is most typically amplified by a PCR for paternity testing, forensic cases, or gene linkage analysis (see Section II, Chapter 4 Polymorphic Markers and Linkage Analysis). 

Peroxide explosives are potent explosives that can be made starting from common and easy to obtain raw materials. The analysis of triacetone triperoxide (TATP) and hexamethylenetriper-oxidediamine (HMTD) was successfully carried out by HPLC-APCI-MS in a powder sample as well as in post-blast extracts originating from a forensic case [134]. After RP separation on a C18 column using a methanohwater (75 25 v/v) mobile phase containing ammonium acetate (2.5mM) at a 0.4mL/min flow rate, detection was carried out in positive ion mode. MS-MS analysis of [TATPh-NH4]+ and [HMTD - H]+ as precursor ions was necessary in order to achieve the required sensitivity in the analysis of postblast extracts (LOD 0.8 and 0.08 ng on column, respectively). 

An atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI-LC-MS) (Sciex API 150 EX) method was developed for the determination of zaleplon and zolpidem in the whole blood. After single-step LLE, the hypnotics were separated by gradient-elution with an ammonium formate buffer/acetonitrile eluent on an Inertsil ODS-3 column. Methaqualone was used as IS. The recovery was higher than 70% for both hypnotics and the IS. The method was successfully applied to forensic cases [11]. 

Inertsil ODS-3 column Ammonium formate buffer-acetomitrile Mass spectrometry Determination in whole blood applied to forensic cases [11]... 

SOHT (2004) Recommendations for hair testing in forensic cases. Forensic Sci Int 145 83-84... 

Ubelaker, D. H. (2001). Artificial radiocarbon as an indicator of recent origin of organic remains in forensic cases. /. Forensic Sci. 46,1285-1287. 

The following year, the British National Formulary, a joint publication of the British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (1991), listed suicidal ideation and violent behavior as fluoxetine side effects. Also in 1991,1 published Toxic Psychiatry, in which I observed for the first time that Prozac was producing a continuum of overstimulation that included akathisia, agitation, anxiety, insomnia, depression and mania, and, in the extreme, suicide and violence. I drew on previously sequestered FDA premarketing data on Prozac, the scientific literature, and my own clinical and forensic cases. 

Kintz, P., Ludes, B., and Mangin, P., Detection of drugs in human hair using Abbott ADx, with confirmation by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS),. Forensic Sci., 37, 328, 1992. Moeller, M. R., Fey, R, and Sachs, H., Hair analysis as evidence in forensic cases. Forensic Sci Int., 63, 43, 1993. 

Moeller, M. R., Maurer, H. H., and Roesler, M., MDMA in blood, urine and hair a forensic case, in Proc. 30th TIAFT Meeting, Takeaki Nagata, Ed., Yoyodo Printing Kaisha Ltd., Fukuoka, Japan, 1992, 347. 

Three types of questions have to be answered by hair analysis in the forensic cases of illegal drug abuse ... 

Concentrations of Drugs of Abuse other than Opiates found in Hair Samples in Forensic Cases (1989-1992)... 

D. General Rules for the Evaluation of Hair Analysis in Forensic Cases... 

We have used hair analysis in over 300 forensic cases, approximately half of this number in collaboration with Siegel, who utilized hair analysis as an adjunct to his forensic psychopharmacological evaluations. 

Application to forensic cases concerned the investigation of spent ammunition casings, reloading powders (IMR 700X, W-W 452AA, HRD, W-W 296,... 

CZE offers the potential of ultramicroanalyses of enzymatic activities in biological samples. This application could be useful in forensic cases when only trace amounts of biological specimens are available—for example, in the detection of amylase activity from saliva extracted from stamps or envelopes. 

Along with the identity of a sample, its integrity is also important in forensic cases. An athlete has supplied a urine sample for drug testing. If the sample is contaminated at any stage then the integrity of the original sample (as described on the sample label) has been destroyed and the analytical results are worthless and cannot be used in evidence. 

In forensic cases it is important to ensure that all samples are labelled correctly and that there is a chain of custody (see Section 5.3) back to the point from where the sample was taken. Consider the case of two athletes who have urine samples taken for analysis for the presence of illegal drugs. One of the tests is positive and the other negative. The analyst who gives evidence in court must be certain beyond reasonable doubt that the positive result from the urine sample can be connected to the eorrect athlete. This can be achieved if the samples and supporting documentation are clearly and accurately labelled. 

In addition to being distributed unevenly throu out the body, a drug may not be distributed evenly within tiie separate parts of a single tissue. In blood, drugs may tend to be concentrated either in the plasma or in the erythrocytes. Thus, it may prove to be of littie value to examine a plasma sample in a case where tiie drug involved is known to be concentrated in tiie erythrocytes (e.g. acetazol-amide). It is usual to examine whole blood in forensic cases whereas plasma is usually examined in clinical situations, and there could be a significant difference in the concentrations when measured in the two situations. The whole blood concentration and the plasma concentration cannot be compared until one or the otiier has been corrected by reference to the plasma whole blood ratio. 

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