Forensic Toxicology - Guest 1 Flashcards
paracelsus
Everything is toxic depending on the dose
What is forensic toxicology?
The application of toxicology
as part of a legal investigation
What does Pharmacokinetics describe?
the time course of the blood
and tissue concentration profile of drugs
What does Pharmacodynamics describe?
the effects of drugs and the
mechanisms of their actions
What are 4 indications for forensic toxicology?
1unnatural manner or cause of death
2driving under the influence (DUI)
3drug-facilitated crime (sexual assault, robbery)
4 exclusion of intoxication
What are 4 questions for forensic toxicologist?
Are there substances present that:
1 could explain death?
2 contributed to death?
3 influenced behavior or consciousness?
4 affected driving ability?
Wat are 3 phases of toxicolgical analysis?
pre-analytical phase: -sampling and analytical strategy
analytical phase:
-bio-analytical research
post-analytical phase: -interpretation of the results
What are some matrices in forensic toxicology? (10)
blood
urine
vitreous humor
hair
gastric contents
bile
liver
brain
lung
Samples collected in the hospital
Wat factors influence time of drug dissappearance? (5)
1 route of administration
2 dose
3 matrix (blood, oral fluid,
urine)
4 chemical substance
5 analytical method
In what matrices can substances be detected the longest?
-shortest –> longest
Blood - Saliva - Urine - Sweat - Hair&Nails
What is the difference in drug presence Ante-mortem VS Post-mortem?
Ante-mortem = drug metablosm in the Liver
Post-mortem = NO metabolism in the Liver
- chemical degradation
-formation of: Alcohol, GHB, Amfetamine
What are challenges of post-mortem analysis?
1 Non-availibility of different matrices
2 Analytical points
3 Postmortem redistribution
What are the analytical points that challenge post-mortem analysis?
- storage containers
- drug stability
- contamination
- postmortem formation of substances
What is the preffered matrix for analysis?
Femoral blood –> drug concentrations are closer to the antemortem level than the concentration in cardiac blood.
BUT post-mortem concentration of femoral blood can also change
What are postmortem redistribution mechanisms?
In drug reservoirs –> bijv. liver, lungs, myocardium, GI tract
Postmortem changes: cell death, blood coagulation
Chemical decomposition of substances
