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In recent years, a class of new designer drugs commonly referred to as ‘bath salts’ have made their way to the illicit drug market. The most common drugs encountered are designer amphetamines and cathinones. Many analytical methods for analysis and identification of bath salts have been published, but there has been little reported on their impact on existing gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) amine confirmation methods. Due to structural similarities, the potential exists that designer amphetamines may interfere with methods used for analysis of sympathomimetic amines. Methiopropamine, 4-fluoroamphetamine, 4-fluoromethamphetamine (4-FMA) and 4-methylamphetamine were examined for potential interference with immunoassays and GC–MS confirmation analysis utilizing three derivatization procedures: R(-)-α-methoxy-α-trifluoromethylphenylacetyl chloride (R-MTPAC), heptafluorobutyric anhydride (HFBA) and chlorodifluoroacetic anhydride (ClF2AA). Significant cross-reactivity was observed with all the four compounds on the Syva Emit® II Plus Amphetamines and Roche KIMS Amphetamines II immunoassays. Laboratories utilizing GC–MS selected-ion-monitoring confirmation methods with R-MTPAC, HFBA or ClF2AA derivatives could experience potential chromatographic and mass spectral interferences from 4-fluroamphetamine, 4-FMA and methiopropamine in the form of ion ratio and quantitative failures. Careful ion selection, proper selectivity and specificity studies during method validation and rigid chromatographic and spectral acceptance criteria are required to assure the robustness and accuracy of GC–MS methods. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents a study which investigates the overdose of extended-release oxymorphone hydrochloride tablets which resulted to death. It mentions the use of liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry on the analysis of the concentrations of opiate in the blood and urine. Results show that the compounds temazepam, doxylamine and dextromethorphan are present in the urine samples.

The article presents a case study that evaluates the two cases of fatal overdoses of calcium channel blocker amlodipine. Postmortem samples were obtained and amlodipine was measured through liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure photoionization-mass spectrometry. Results revealed that the heart blood concentrations for the two cases were 2.4 and 0.95 milligram per liter and such drug has been quantified in all other tissues.

The article provides information on the case of a 47-year-old man whose death was caused by an abuse on sevoflurane. The presence of sevoflurane was confirmed using a headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The concentration of the heart blood sevoflurane was 16 mg/L, and the concentration of the peripheral blood sevoflurane was 8.0 mg/L. When the heart blood was examined, no other drugs or other volatile substances were confirmed. Moreover, cardiac arrhythmia due to sevoflurane toxicity was the cause of his death as ruled out by the examiner.

Employs gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to monitor the excretion of total cannabinol in 4381 urine voids collected from seven participants through a controlled clinical study of multiple oral doses of cannabinol. Indication that terminal urinal elimination of cannabinol following oral administration was approximately two to three days.

The article focuses on the distribution of ether in two postmortem cases. Headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the selective ion monitoring mode was used to determine ether concentrations in the two cases. In the first case, the medical examiner ruled that the cause of death was asphyxia due to hanging. In case 2, the cause of death was asphyxia and the manner of death was suicide.

Cites findings of a toxicological testing conducted on sedative-analgesic xylazine which is used in veterinary medicine after cases of xylazine's involvement in human drug-related deaths and impairment were observed. Medical history of the 42-year-old man who died after taking the medication; Details of methodology adopted by researchers to detect xylazine in blood of the patient; Revelation that full scan electron ionization gas chromatography-mass spectrometry confirmed presence of xylazine in the patient.