analytical and forensic toxicology

Question 1

what is analytical toxicology

Answer 1

• do analytical chemistry to do qualitative/ quantitative estimation on living organism
• taken from body fluids/ solid tissues of organism
• steps:
  
  • separate the toxic (mostly pure and enough)
  • if parent compound absent –> identify the metabolite

Question 2

types of toxicants?

Answer 2

• gases
• volatile substances
• corrosives
• metal
• toxin anions and non metals
• non volatile organic substances
• miscellaneous

Question 3

what is forensic toxicology

Answer 3

• identify any chemical that is considered a causative agent that causes death/ injury in humans
• provide evidence to explain how the death/ injury happens

Question 4

steps of forensice toxicology?

Answer 4

1. case history and specimen collection
2. toxicological analysis
3. interpretation of analytical results

Question 5

case history and specimen collection

what is to be done?

Answer 5

find on information on:
- age, sex, and weight
- medical history, occupation
- treatment administered before death
- gross autopsy findings
- drugs available
- interval between onset of symptoms and death
- collect postmortem specimen for analysis

Question 6

toxicological analysis

pt.1

Answer 6

things to consider before anlaysis:
- amount of specimen available
- nature of poison sought
- possible biotransformation of the poison

Question 7

toxicological analysis

pt.2

what should be done?

Answer 7

• if poison is through oral, can check the urine and liver
• if specific poison is suspected –> can check the tissue and fluids where the poison is more found
• an autopsy + analysis should start ASAP after death

because there may be chemical changes during decomposition that may destroy the poison/ produce anything similar to it and give false positive result

Question 8

how to interpret the results?

Answer 8

mostly results should answer:
- route of administration
- dose being administered
- check whether concentration was sufficient to cause death/ alter actions that can cause death

by assessing the physiological/ behavioral meanings from the results

• highest is through oral, inhalation, IM, IV

Question 9

any others that can be analyzed?

Answer 9

• post mortem blood should really be considered –> may be as non toxic. standard therapy
• the blood are site-dependent –> can fluctuate between the death and specimen collection