Abstract
The aim of this project was to evaluate the Cozart RapiScan Oral fluid Drug
Testing System as an on-site screening tool for vitreous humor samples collected
during post-mortem examinations. Vitreous humor is easy to collect and as it is
contained within the eye it is almost completely unaffected by post-mortem
redistribution. The ability to carry out an initial drug screen on vitreous humor
at the earliest stage of the death investigation process could contribute
significantly to the assessment of the role drugs may have played prior to
confirmation with toxicological analyses at the laboratory. Vitreous humor (n =
146) was collected from autopsy examinations (111 males and 35 females) with a
specific focus on cases where death occurred following a road traffic accident or
where an overdose was suspected. All samples were screened using the five-panel
methadone Cozart RapiScan Cartridge with an overall positive rate of 29%. Of the
positive results, 43% screened positive for benzodiazepines, 17% for cocaine, 7%
for methadone and 33% for opiates. Positive samples, with the exception of
benzodiazepines, and 20% of negative samples were analysed by GC/MS. This is the
first reported use of this system as an on-site forensic tool in death
investigation and for screening for drugs of abuse in vitreous humor. The
conclusions from this study show that the Cozart RapiScan System could play an
important role in obtaining information on the toxicological state of the person
at the time of death.
Lingua originale | English |
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pagine (da-a) | 102-105 |
Numero di pagine | 4 |
Rivista | Forensic Science International |
Volume | 2006 |
Stato di pubblicazione | Pubblicato - 2006 |
Keywords
- Cozart RapiScan system
- drugs of abuse