Overview of systematic toxicological analysis strategies and their coverage of substances in forensic toxicology

Karen Rygaard*, Meiru Pan, Marie Katrine Klose Nielsen, Petur Weihe Dalsgaard, Brian Schou Rasmussen, Kristian Linnet

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReviewResearchpeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)
30 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Systematic toxicological analysis (STA) is the process of using an adequate analytical methodology to detect and identify as many potentially toxicologically relevant compounds as possible in biological samples. STA is an important part of everyday routine work within forensic toxicology, and several methods for STA have frequently been published and reviewed independently. However, the many drugs and other substances involved, as well as the constant emergence of new ones, may pose a major challenge in STA, which often demands a strategy involving multiple analytical methods in parallel. Such strategies have been published and evaluated less frequently despite their relevance in forensic toxicology. This mini-review briefly summarizes commonly applied methods for STA in forensic toxicology, including gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and liquid chromatography–MS (LC–MS) methods, and highlights some of their potential pitfalls. Second, it provides an overview of previously reported strategies to conduct STA, including a presentation of the STA strategy applied in the authors’ laboratory. This involves broad drug screening by LC–high-resolution MS, supported by targeted screening and quantification using LC–tandem MS, headspace (HS)-GC–MS, HS-GC–flame ionization detector and other complementary methods. The STA strategy aims to cover as many potentially relevant drugs as possible and seeks to reduce potential pitfalls arising in forensic casework. The review underlines that not every substance can be identified in all circumstances even with a comprehensive STA strategy.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAnalytical Science Advances
Volume4
Issue number3-4
Pages (from-to)96-103
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Keywords

  • drug screening
  • forensic toxicology
  • high-resolution
  • mass spectrometry
  • STA

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