Determination of Cyanide in Biological and Non - Biological Matrices by Headspace Gas Chromatography Coupled to Flame - Ionization Detector

Shafi, Humera; Subhani, Adeel; Imran, Muhammad

doi:10.12816/0011256

Cited by 5 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…The replicate analysis of 15 blood samples spiked with low‐level standards (i.e., 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 μg/ml) was used to calculate the lower LOD and LOQ according to DIN 32645 29,32 . The calculated LOD of our method was 0.05 μg/ml, and the LOQ 0.16 μg/ml, which is comparable with previously reported values from other HS‐GC‐FID methods (LOD: 0.02 and 1 μg/ml) 23,24 . Physiological levels of CN can range from 0.005 to 0.08 μg/ml and can be determined with MS and NPD detectors, which provide the best sensitivity for cyanide detection (LOD: 0.005–0.05 μg/ml) 28,34–36 .…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 85%

“…Because neither the addition of tert ‐butyl alcohol nor acetonitrile improved the analytical performance of the method (i.e., linearity, accuracy, and recovery), the application of an internal standard in the method was not pursued further. Whereas other published HS‐GC‐FID methods require sample volumes of 1‐to 5‐ml blood, our method was performed with only 0.5‐ml blood 23,24 …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among the wide range of methodologies proposed for the determination of CN in biological specimens, methods using headspace‐gas chromatography (HS‐GC) coupled with different detection systems such as flame ionization detection (FID), 23,24 electron capture detection, 25 mass spectrometry, 26 and nitrogen‐phosphorus detection 27,28 are predominant in forensic laboratories. So far, the congener analysis, which is routinely performed by HS‐GC‐FID, was never evaluated for a specific detection and quantification of CN.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modified congener analysis: Quantification of cyanide in whole blood, other body fluids, and diverse beverages

Sundermann

Schmitt

Bartel

2020

Drug Testing and Analysis

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The congener analysis is routinely used for the determination of volatile compounds in body fluids and beverages for forensic investigations. Although intoxications with cyanide via smoke inhalation or ingestion of cyanide salts are frequently encountered in forensic medicine, the inclusion of hydrogen cyanide in this analysis was never studied in detail. In this work, a very simple, fast, and sensitive quantification method with headspace gas chromatography and flame ionization detection for the analysis of cyanide in whole blood—was developed and validated. In contrast to the standard sample preparation of the congener analysis, an acidification step with tartaric acid was added. A limit of detection of 50 ng/ml, good linearity (coefficient of correlation > 0.9997), high accuracy (101.5%–106.4%), and precision (relative standard deviation 1.8%–3.7%) were achieved. Authentic blood samples of 10 forensic cases were investigated with the new method. Furthermore, the method was used for the quantification of cyanide in other body fluids (serum and urine) and diverse beverages. Interferences were investigated, and the addition of aldehydes produced a clear concentration‐dependent decrease of the cyanide signal. Besides, the method offers an economical use of limited sample material by the simultaneous determination of cyanide, ethanol, and congener alcohols.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 85%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modified congener analysis: Quantification of cyanide in whole blood, other body fluids, and diverse beverages

Sundermann

Schmitt

Bartel

2020

Drug Testing and Analysis

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“…Therefore, according to the toxicology analysis protocol, all presumptive and screening tests, including colorimetric screening of cyanide using vitamin B-12 strips, colorimetric screening of phosphine using silver nitrate strips, screening for drugs of abuse using ELISA, and general screening for drugs and poisons using Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry technique were performed. The presumptive test for cyanide using the vitamin B-12 strips indicated the presence of cyanide which was confirmed and quantitated using headspace-gas chromatograph coupled to flame ionization detector technique [17]. Toxicological analysis revealed lethal amounts of cyanide in all postmortem specimens ranging from 24 to 2600 mg/L in gastric contents, 70 to 282 mg/kg in liver, 11 to 12 mg/kg in mixture of viscera (liver, spleen, kidney) and 15 mg/L in blood.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…HCN gas diffuses into the headspace above the specimen in a sealed vial based on Henry's Law of partial pressure. The method showed good linearity (r2 = 0.999), 95-102% accuracy and a relative standard deviation (% CV) ranging from 1.3% to 3.8% [17].…”

Section: Mechanism Of Actionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Toxicological Investigation of Acute Cyanide Poisoning Cases: Report of Four Cases

Shafi¹,

Imran²,

Usman³

et al. 2015

AJFSFM

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Cyanide is a deadly poison. Acute cyanide poisoning in humans is rare and is predominantly caused by smoke inhalation from fires and much more rarely by intentional ingestion of cyanide salts as in suicide or homicide attempts. The main objective of this report is to emphasize the need to consider cyanide poisoning, even if it is rare, in differential diagnosis while evaluating cases of sudden death and the significance of gastric content analysis in acute poisoning cases. The authors reported four cases of lethal cyanide poisoning. Autopsy specimens were submitted to the author's laboratory for analysis. A presumptive test for cyanide using Vitamin B12 indicated the presence of cyanide. Confirmation and quantification of cyanide was performed using headspace gas chromatograph coupled to flame ionization detector technique. The toxicological analysis revealed lethal hydrogen cyanide concentrations in all postmortem specimens ranging from 24 to 2600 mg/L in gastric contents, 70 to 282 mg/kg in liver specimens, 11 to 12 mg/kg in a mixture of viscera (liver, spleen, kidney) and 15 mg/L in blood. The cause of deaths in the reported cases was acute respiratory failure and cardiac arrest following cyanide intoxication.

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Can the cyanide metabolite, 2-aminothiazoline-4-carboxylic acid, be used for forensic verification of cyanide poisoning?

Alluhayb,

Severance,

Hendry-Hofer

et al. 2024

Forensic Toxicol

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Purpose Forensic verification of cyanide (CN) poisoning by direct CN analysis in postmortem blood is challenging due to instability of CN in biological samples. CN metabolites, thiocyanate (SCN−) and 2-aminothiazoline-4-carboxylic acid (ATCA), have been proposed as more stable biomarkers, yet it is unclear if either is appropriate for this purpose. In this study, we evaluated the behavior of CN biomarkers in postmortem swine and postmortem blood to determine which serves as the best biomarker of CN exposure. Methods CN, SCN−, and ATCA were measured in postmortem swine (N = 8) stored at 4 °C and postmortem blood stored at 25 °C (room temperature, RT) and 37 °C (typical human body temperature, HBT). Results Following CN poisoning, the concentration of each CN biomarker increased well above the baseline. In postmortem swine, CN concentrations declined rapidly (t1/2 = 34.3 h) versus SCN− (t1/2 = 359 h, 15 days) and ATCA (t1/2 = 544 h, 23 days). CN instability in postmortem blood increased at RT (t1/2 = 10.7 h) and HBT (t1/2 = 6.6 h). SCN− and ATCA were more stable than CN at all storage conditions. In postmortem swine, the t1/2s of SCN− and ATCA were 15 and 23 days, respectively. While both the t1/2s of SCN− and ATCA were relatively lengthy, endogenous levels of SCN− were much more variable than ATCA. Conclusion While there are still questions to be answered, ATCA was the most adept forensic marker of CN poisoning (i.e., ATCA produced the longest half-life, the largest increase above baseline levels, and most stable background concentrations).

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Determination of Cyanide in Biological and Non - Biological Matrices by Headspace Gas Chromatography Coupled to Flame - Ionization Detector

Cited by 5 publications

References 18 publications

Modified congener analysis: Quantification of cyanide in whole blood, other body fluids, and diverse beverages

Modified congener analysis: Quantification of cyanide in whole blood, other body fluids, and diverse beverages

Toxicological Investigation of Acute Cyanide Poisoning Cases: Report of Four Cases

Can the cyanide metabolite, 2-aminothiazoline-4-carboxylic acid, be used for forensic verification of cyanide poisoning?

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