Premium
Toxicological Analysis of Opiates from Alternative Matrices Collected from an Exhumed Body
Author(s) -
Cippitelli Marta,
Mirtella Dora,
Ottaviani Giovanni,
Tassoni Giovanna,
Froldi Rino,
Cingolani Mariano
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.13559
Subject(s) - forensic toxicology , gas chromatography–mass spectrometry , extraction (chemistry) , chromatography , toxicology , chemistry , mass spectrometry , biology
In this case study, the body of a 45‐year‐old man was exhumed after 1 year at the request of the public prosecutor to assess whether the death was caused by drug consumption. Toxicological analyses were performed on several matrices, including liver, kidney, and the alternative matrices hair and teeth. The systematic toxicological analysis ( STA ), which consisted of basic and acid liquid/liquid extraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry ( GC ‐ MS ) analysis, showed the presence of opiates in each of the matrices analyzed. Subsequently, to confirm and quantify the presence of opioids, samples of each of the matrices were subjected to solid‐phase extraction and specific GC ‐ MS analysis. The case presented demonstrates the possibility of drug detection in an exhumed body that has been buried for 1 year, despite the problems of quantitative interpretation of the data, and that toxicological results could be useful along with other forensic evidence.