Forensic toxicology Flashcards
What do forensic toxicologists do?
Forensic toxicologists perform tests on bodily fluids and tissue sample to identify drugs present in the body.
They also perform test on samples collected from the body (eg., liver, stomatch)
What cases do forensic toxicologists usually deal with?
Accidental poisoning and drugs of abuse
What is the process of an investigation for a forensic toxicologist?
Circumstances, Post-mortem, Take samples, extraction chemical analysis, identify quantify, toxic chemical present?
What should you do in suspected drug cases?
Post mortem examination
Anatomy
Histology
Biochemistry/toxicology
Compare with ‘normal’
What should you do in a postmortem examination?
remove every organ, weigh organs, take samples.
How do you deal with sample?
Take sample from liver, Homogenise (blend it up), solvent extract, analyse in HPLC/MS and then quantify,
Where would you look for the presence of drugs?
Stomatch contents, urine, blood, Faeces, organs, bile
What effect does the decay process have on toxic chemicals?
Toxic chemicals leach from body
Bacteria breaks down chemicals
Maggots break down chemicals
What are the types of drugs of abuse cases?
Personal use
Selling/trading
Trafficking
What is the analytical process for powder/ crystals
Put them straight into HPLC machine
what is the analytical process for weed, residues, blood and urine?
Solvent extraction and then HPLC
How do you analyse hair in suspected drug cases?
Collect a hair sample, wash the sample, cut into segments, solvent extract hair, HPLC-MS
