Forensic science applications drug analysis

The aforementioned applications of GC have been from several major areas of forensic science, specifically drug analysis and toxicology and other areas of trace evidence, such as pyrolysis, explosives, and the detection of accelerants. There are, however, a few other forensic analyses by GC that have been reported. 

During the last decade, capillary electrophoresis (CE) has developed into a widely applied method for the analysis of pharmaceuticals (both for the evaluation of pharmaceutical formulations and metabolites). These applications established the basis for introducing CE into the forensic held also. Today, capillary electrophoresis can be applied to a number of analytical problems in forensic science, including the analysis of gunshot residues, explosives, inks, dusts, soils, and, of course, illicit drugs, diverse toxicants, DNA hngerprinting, protein analysis, and so forth (for reviews, see Refs. 1 and 2). 

See also Clinical Analysis Sample Handling. Derivatization of Analytes. Forensic Sciences Systematic Drug Identification Thin-Layer Chromatography. Fourier Transform Techniques. Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry Forensic Applications. Immunoassays, Applications Clinical Forensic. Liquid Chromatography Normal Phase Reversed Phase. Spectrophotometry Pharmaceutical Applications. 

Technically, testing of hair for drugs is no more difficult or challenging than testing in many other "alternative" matrices (for example, liver, bone, etc.). In fact, the application of analytical methods and instrumental approaches are in most cases quite similar, regardless of the initial matrix. At present, hair analysis is routinely used as a tool for detection of drug use in forensic science, traffic medicine, occupational medicine, and clinical toxicology. 

HPCE has been applied to the analysis of drugs and pharmaceuticals (Altria, 1993). In fact, determinations of drugs in pharmaceutical formulations represent one of the most rapidly growing areas for HPCE. In addition, pharmaceutical drug analysis is the starting point for the application of HPCE in forensic toxicology and the forensic sciences (Thormann et al., 1994). 

Forensic science, the application of scientific principles to the legal process, is especially important in drugs analysis because in every case, one or more samples must be investigated in order to prove, or otherwise, that a controlled substance is present. The drugs chemist must ensure that the materials provided are suitable for the analysis to be carried out, select the correct materials, carry out the correct analysis and achieve quality data of a certain standard, interpret... 

Forensic science encompasses a number of different fields of science. In this book, we are explaining the theories associated with high performance liquid chromatography, the different forms that it may take, and its use in some forensic applications. In this chapter, we will examine applications of HPLC in drug analysis, toxicology, analysis of explosives, analysis of coloured materials, and environmental science. 

Emission spectroscopic methods, due to their high intrinsic sensitivities, are techniques of choice much sought after in forensic science. Fluorimetry has been applied to the analysis of mineral oils, grease, inks, and drugs (e.g., LSD), whereas X-ray fluorescence has found extensive applications in the analysis of inorganic materials (e.g., paint pigments and glass). 

Following ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry and infrared (IR) spectroscopy, gas chromatography (GC) was one of the first instrumental techniques to help in solving forensic science problems. The early very successful applications included the determination of blood alcohol by direct injection of blood or serum, and the detection and identification of petroleum products in debris from arson cases in 1958/59. The breakthrough of GC in these areas and in drug analysis was an event of the 1960s and the 1970s. 

Moore JM (1990) The application of chemical derivatizat-ion in forensic drug chemistry for gas and high-performance liquid chromatographic methods of analysis. Forensic Science Review 2 79-124. 

See alsa Chromatography Multidimensional Techniques. Environmental Analysis. Extraction Solid-Phase Extraction. Food and Nutritional Analysis Sample Preparation Contaminants Pesticide Residues. Forensic Sciences Drug Screening in Sport Illicit Drugs. Herbicides. Liquid Chromatography Instrumentation Clinical Applications Food Applications. Mass Spectrometry Peptides and Proteins. Pesticides. Pharmaceutical Analysis Sample Preparation. Proteomics. Sample Handling Automated Sample Preparation. Water Analysis Organic Compounds. 

Tagliato, F., et al. "Capillary Electrophoresis Principles and Applications in Illicit Drug Analysis." Forensic Science International, T11996,211-229. 

Stockham PC, Partridge EL. Application of quadrupole time-of-flight—mass spectrometry to the quantitative analysis of basic drugs. Poster presentation, 20th International Symposium on the Forensic Sciences, 5—9 September 2010, Sydney, Australia. 

Moller, M.R., Fey, P., and Wennig, R. (1993) Simultaneous determination of drugs of abuse (opiates, cocaine and amphetamine) in human hair by GC-MS and its application to the methadon treatment program, in Special Issue Hair Analysis as a Diagnostic Tool for Drugs of Abuse Investigation, Forensic Science International, vol. 63 (ed P. Saukko), Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 185-206. 

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