Detection of Drugs of Forensic Importance in Postmortem Bone
By Kelly K. McGrath, BS, and Amanda J. Jenkins, PhD
I read an article by McGrath and Jenkins reporting the results of a study to prove whether or not different drugs of forensic value could be detected in bone from cases where the victim presented with drugs in his or her blood. 39 cases were chosen for the study, 25 being male and 14 female.
Methods
Using a scalpel, each bone specimen was cleaned by scraping away overlying muscle and tissue. Next the specimens were rinsed with deionized water then air-dried. The bones were cut into slivers, each weighing 2g, then soaked in methanol for about 16 hours. Using these processed specimens the drugs were identified by electron impact gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The specimens were tested for the presence of benzodiazepines, opiates, and cocaine and metabolites.
Results
The most common drugs discovered in the female remains were opiates (43%) and alkaline drugs (32%). For males the top 4 drugs were opiates (31%), basic drugs (24%), cocaine and metabolites (22%), and benzodiazepines (19%). Drug intoxication followed by disease and carbon monoxide poisoning accounted for the cause of death in 22 of the 39 cases. 19 of those 22 deaths were rules accidental while the remaining 3 were ruled suicidal. As it turned out, 14 cases contained basic drugs in the blood and 8 of the associated bone specimens were positive for those drugs, which is 57%. These basic drugs include amitriptyline, citalopram, diphenhydramine, doxylamine, meperidine, oxycodone, and zolpidem. The drugs dextromethorphan, diltiazem, doxylamine, fentanyl, paroxetine, promethazine, tramadol, and zolpidem all presented in the blood but not the bone.
Conclusion
Although the results were not as consistent as the authors had hoped, it at least proved that current testing methods can detect basic drugs of forensic value. Many factors affect the deposition of drugs into the bone including, but not limited to, distribution at time of death, exposure, drug physiochemical characteristics, and bone type collected. Unstable drugs such as 6-acetylmorphine may not become stored in the bone. More drugs were detected in the blood than the bone, but the drugs that were found contained in the bone presented in higher concentrations. The authors acknowledge that more studies need to be performed to text different methods and to determine the rate and dosage at which certain drugs become deposited into the bone. However, McGrath and Jenkins have accomplished their goal of indicating that it is possible for drugs to be detected in dry bone in cases of skeletonization where soft tissue is not available for testing.
Reference:
McGrath, Kelly K. BS & Jenkins, Amanda J. PhD (2009). Detection of Drugs of
Forensic Importance in Postmortem Bone, The American Journal of
Forensic Medicine and Pathology 30(1); 40-44. Retrieved from:
No comments:
Post a Comment