This publication of the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence, a program of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), discusses new methods of drug analysis in forensic toxicology.
The Virginia Department of Forensic Science (DFS), with funding from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), developed two novel analytical methods using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to improve efficiency, detection, and productivity of analysis of drugs in biological matrices. This research enabled the development and validation of methods for the analysis of NPS and the analysis of opioids, cocaine, and cocaine metabolites in biological fluids using Agilent Technologies triple quadrupole LC/MS systems. Analysis of drugs in biological matrices such as blood plays an important role in cases where information relating to concentrations and effects of these substances may be limited; these include but are not limited to cases involving driving under the influence of drugs, medicolegal death investigations, and drug-facilitated sexual assault. Forensic science service providers (FSSPs) often encounter cases involving polydrug use, which may require additional analysis time. Further, FSSPs must identify and analyze a constantly evolving array of novel psychoactive substances (NPS), also known as ‘designer drugs’, ‘synthetics’ or ‘legal highs.’ As a result, FSSPs are looking to develop, validate, and implement methods that increase efficiency, detection, and productivity