Journal of Analytical Toxicology

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

INTRODUCTION: Postmortem whole blood samples can differ greatly in quality where hyperlipemia is a frequent variable that can influence the results of analytical methods. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of lipemia on postmortem analysis as well as to demonstrate the usage of Intralipid in comparison to pooled postmortem lipids as matrix additives for meaningful evaluation and validation of hyperlipidemic postmortem samples. METHODS: Hyperlipidemic blood samples were simulated by adding different concentrations of Intralipid® or pooled authentic postmortem lipids to bovine whole blood...

New psychoactive substances (NPS) continue to appear on the drug market and alpha-pyrrolidinoisohexanophenone (α-PiHP) is one of the most popular cathinone derivatives. In this paper, we report a case of death caused by α-PiHP. Based on the toxicological results of the studied case along with autopsy, histopathological findings and crime-scene information, fatal intoxication with α-PiHP was accepted as the final cause of death. α-PiHP and its metabolite (OH-α-PiHP) were detected and quantified in all post-mortem materials (blood collected from the heart, the femoral vein and the dural venous sinuses, vitreous humour, cerebrospinal fluid, cerebral cortex, brainstem, cerebellum, bile, liver, kidney, heart, pancreas, spleen, thyroid gland, lung, adipose tissue, stomach and intestine)...

BACKGROUND: Maternal drug use during pregnancy has significant health and socio-legal implications. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) publishes self-reported rates of drug use during pregnancy; however, comprehensive long-term laboratory data on neonatal drug exposure are lacking. METHODS: Over 175,000 meconium specimens originating from 46 US states were analyzed at ARUP laboratories between the years 2015 and 2020. A retrospective investigation of drug positivity rates, multidrug detection, and median drug concentrations was conducted for 28 compounds in 6 drug classes...

Laws concerning the growing, selling, and consuming cannabis and its related products have been changing considerably over the last few years. The legalization of hemp in 2018 sparked an interest in Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-9-THC) isomers and analogs that are derived from hemp and sold with minimal oversight. One example is Δ-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-8-THC). Although less potent than Δ-9-THC, Δ-8-THC is gaining popularity and can easily be found where cannabis-related products are sold...

Keratinized matrices, including nails, are among the most resistant matrices that can be analyzed in cases where remains are deeply decomposed and relatively non -invasive for living people. In order to exploit these new matrices in the search for exogenous substances, it is necessary to develop analytical technologies capable of achieving high levels of sensitivity. In this technical note, an easy method is presented for the simultaneous extraction and quantification of three narcotic substances (morphine, codeine, methadone), two benzodiazepines (BDZ) (clonazepam and alprazolam) and an antipsychotic (quetiapine) from nail matrix by analysis in Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography at High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HPLC/HR-MS)...

In this study, we used solid-phase extraction (SPE) with liquid chromatography-ion trap/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-IT/TOF-MS) to analyze 2-fluorodeschloroketamine (2-FDCK) metabolites in human urine. The complete set of oxidative metabolites was identified, with 17 compounds divided into four groups. Furthermore, we examined the hydroxy substitution site after oxidative metabolism with theoretical calculation and 2-FDCK NMR data. We clarified the correlation of the oxidative metabolic sites with the electron cloud density in the structure...

Metaldehyde, a widely used molluscicide, is the third cause of intoxication by pesticides in domestic animals in Europe. Most mammalian species are susceptible, and its exposure may lead to death within a few hours. While metaldehyde intoxication diagnosis is in most cases presumptive, based on the symptomatology or from "post-mortem" analysis, few analytical methods are currently available for live animals. The aim of this work was to describe a fast analytical method for specific and quantitative determination of metaldehyde in animal whole blood and serum at concentrations of toxicological significance...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Numerous methods and techniques have been published for the identification of new psychoactive substances (NPS) and their metabolites in urine. However, there lacks a holistic approach to analyze different groups of NPS and their metabolites with decision points for reporting their use. In this study, data-dependent acquisition workflow using liquid chromatography--quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was developed and validated for the identification of a total of 94 NPS and metabolites in urine using the established decision points...

Barium is an alkaline earth metal whose toxicity is dictated by its compounded salt form: barium sulfate is insoluble and safe to ingest, but other barium salts (chloride, carbonate, sulfide, oxide and acetate) are bioavailable and therefore toxic when ingested. There have been 49 previous reports of fatal intoxications following barium consumption: 38 deemed accidental in nature, 8 suicidal, 1 homicidal and 2 of undetermined intent. In this report, we detail the first intentional fatal self-poisoning with barium chloride to be reported in the UK, along with a review of the surrounding literature...

Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are commonly utilized for controlling rodent populations, however non-target companion and wildlife animals are also exposed. A method was developed for quantitation of seven ARs (chlorophacinone, coumachlor, bromadiolone, brodifacoum, difethialone, diphacinone, and warfarin) and dicoumarol (a naturally occurring anticoagulant) in animal serum. Analytes were extracted with 10% (v/v) acetone in methanol and analyzed by reverse phase high-pressure liquid chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) using electrospray ionization (negative mode) combined with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM)...

The new class of synthetic cannabinoids termed OXIZIDs has recently emerged on the recreational drug market. In order to continue detection of new drugs in biological specimens, identification of metabolites is essential. The aim of this study was to elucidate the metabolites of BZO-4en-POXIZID produced in human liver microsomes (HLM) and human hepatocyte incubations and to compare the results with closely related analogs using the same experimental setup. Each drug was incubated for 1 h in HLM and BZO-4en-POXIZID was also incubated in human hepatocytes for up to 3 h...

The value of hair in forensic toxicology has already been widely demonstrated. It offers a much wider detection window than other matrices and its segmental analysis allows the documentation of a single, occasional or regular consumption of a large number of molecules. To date, considerable efforts are being made to achieve very high sensitivity using increasingly effective techniques in the forensic analysis of hair (GC-EI/MS, GC-CI/MS, GC-MS/MS, HPLC-MS/MS and UPLC-MS/MS). Since the early 2000s, work has been carried out to analyze hair using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) coupled with imaging mass spectrometry (IMS)...

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a central nervous system depressant that has gained popularity as an illicit recreational drug. We describe a case of an elderly woman who was found unconscious in her home. The paramedics initially suspected an intracranial incident. A head computed tomography (CT) was negative, as was the initial urinary drug screening. The diagnosis of GHB intoxication was made with detection of GHB in a urine sample obtained 28-29 hours after assumed time of intake. Our case underscores the importance of considering drug testing in a broad range of patients, and shows that elderly patients may have an extended detection window of GHB...

The quantitative analysis of ethanol in blood and other biological specimens is a commonly requested service from forensic science and toxicology laboratories worldwide. The measured blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) constitutes important evidence when alcohol-related crimes are investigated, such as drunken driving or drug-related sexual assault. This review article considers the importance of various preanalytical factors that might influence changes in ethanol concentration in blood after collection and before analysis or reanalysis after various periods of storage...

The screening of postmortem blood and urine samples is used to identify compounds which may have contributed to an individual's death. Toxicologically significant compounds detected by the screen are then quantitated in blood to determine their likely effect upon death. In most laboratories this is a two-step process. This study compares an established 2-step screening and quantitation processes, utilising a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) screen followed by quantitation by GC-MS or high performance-liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD), with a novel method utilising liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS)...