Determination of drugs in exhumed liver and brain tissue after over 9 years of burial by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry—Part 2: Benzodiazepines, opioids, and further drugs

Abstract

In this publication, benzodiazepines, opioids, and further drugs were analyzed in exhumed brain and liver tissue samples in 116 cases (total) after 9.5-16.5 years of burial. Solid phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was applied. Data from literature is listed summarizing the detectability of the presented analytes after a certain time of burial. In our study, 60% of the analyzed benzodiazepines, 100% of the opioids, and 82% of further drugs were detectable. Only the benzodiazepines lorazepam, nitrazepam, flunitrazepam, and its metabolite norflunitrazepam, and the drugs butylscopolamine, metronidazole, and omeprazole were not detectable at all. Percentage of positive findings (total, and separately for brain and liver tissue) and postmortem period are listed for each analyte. Correlation of detectability depending on postmortem period and condition of tissue are presented exemplarily for midazolam. No substantial correlation was observed. Despite a long time of burial, most benzodiazepines, opioids, and further drugs were detectable in the examined tissue samples. Our results may be a good support for future exhumations in which toxicological analyses are relevant.

Antemortem and postmortem rodenticide analysis in forensic toxicology as a part of an LC‐MS/MS‐based multi‐target screening strategy

“…The rodenticide LOD values evaluated in the strategy presented reached concentration ranges comparable to other LC‐MS/MS based methods 6,7,9,10 . However, the advantage of the multi target strategy developed is the possibility to cover additionally about 250 substances relevant in forensic toxicology based on a combined ±ESI detection 11–14 …”

“…Rodenticide signal detection was performed by ESI‐MS/MS in the negative scheduled multiple reaction monitoring (sMRM) mode. However, since these analytes were incorporated into a complex multi target screening strategy presented earlier, both modes (±ESI) were applied in the complex detection strategy 11–14 . Accordingly, the detection window was set to 60 s; the acquisition time for positive sMRM was 1.4 s and for negative sMRM 0.2 s. The pause between mass ranges was 5 ms.…”

“…However, since these analytes were incorporated into a complex multi target screening strategy presented earlier, both modes (±ESI) were applied in the complex detection strategy. [11][12][13][14] Accordingly, the detection window was set to 60 s; the acquisition time for positive sMRM was 1.4 s and for negative sMRM 0.2 s. The pause between mass ranges was 5 ms. The following parameters were used in the ion source: curtain gas (N 2 ): 35 psi; collision gas (N 2 ): medium; ion source gas 1 and 2 (N 2 ): 50 psi; ion spray voltage: 4,500 V; and temperature: 400 C.…”

“…The aim of this work was to further develop a multi-target screening strategy based on a simple and fast sample preparation by incorporating relevant rodenticides. [11][12][13][14] Although the focus of the work was an effective rodenticide identification, validation experiments based on the recommendations of the German Society of Toxicology and Forensic Medicine (GTFCh) were also intended to evaluate the quantitative possibilities of this complex strategy. 15 Furthermore, real cases of rodenticide intoxications (in animals) were investigated to prove the validity of the method.…”

Detection of Flunitrazepam in Biological Fluids and Beverages:A Review

“…Another research group found that hair detection is also meaningless for some excavated corpses which have a postmortem period of 9.5–16.5 years [71] . Due to this, the liver and brain tissue were exhumed from corpses to determine if the drugs or their metabolites they had taken before death can be detected.…”