Forensic Toxicology: Sample Management and Analysis Study Guide
This guide provides a clear comparison of Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin) and Acetaminophen (Tylenol), two common over-the-counter medications. It explains how they work differently in the body, their benefits for pain and fever relief, and the potential side effects and risks associated with each, including overdose dangers. The guide also briefly mentions how these substances are detected in forensic toxicology.
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Introduction to Post-Mortem Forensic Toxicology
Sample Matrices and Coroner Death Investigations
Forensic toxicology involves scientific methods used in the investigation of crime and death through coroner's death investigations and autopsies.
- Forensic Toxicology
- Death Investigations
- Office of the Chief Coroner
- Coroners
- Autopsy
- Post-mortem examination
- Pathologists
Forensic Toxicology: Analyzing Samples in Death Investigations
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Post-Mortem Forensic Toxicology and Death Investigation
Postmortem forensic toxicology involves the analysis of biological samples for drugs or poisons to determine their role in death investigations.
- Postmortem forensic toxicology
- Death investigation
- Toxicological analysis
- Cause and manner of death
- Coroner’s case types
- Drug screening
- Biological sample collection
- Forensic pathologist and coroner roles
Post-Mortem Forensic Toxicology and Death Investigation
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Sample Types and Post-Mortem Toxicology
Forensic interest samples including blood, urine, vitreous humour, and liver are analyzed to ensure accurate interpretations of drug effects and presence.
- Specimen collection issues
- Blood analysis and autolysis
- Hematoma collection
- Post-embalming sample limitations
- Urine drug metabolism and accumulation
- Liver drug metabolism and distribution
- Qualitative versus quantitative analysis
Post-Mortem Toxicology and Sample Interpretation
This topic covers decomposition processes, postmortem redistribution, drug stability, and the interpretation of drug concentrations and metabolites in forensic toxicology.
- Autolysis
- Putrefaction
- Postmortem Redistribution (PMR)
- Central vs. peripheral blood sampling
- Drug stability
- Metabolites
- Acute vs. chronic ingestion
- Blood-to-plasma ratios
- Drug interpretation
- Coroner's inquest
Coroner’s Inquest and Toxicology Testimony
Information regarding coroner’s inquest procedures, jury verdicts, and expert testimony involving the analysis of drugs in bodily fluids and tissues.
- Coroner’s Inquest
- Jury verdict requirements
- Expert testimony qualifications
- Drug absorption, distribution and elimination
- Analysis of drugs in bodily fluids and tissues
- Drug effects and half-life
- Scientific communication in legal proceedings
Introduction to Forensic Toxicology
The study of the adverse effects of drugs and poisons on the body and the application of scientific methods for the investigation of crime and death.
- Definition of toxicology
- Definition of drugs and poisons
- History of toxicology
- Indigenous medicines
- Foundations of modern forensic toxicology
- Marsh Test
- Classifications of poisons
- Canadian forensic toxicology history
- Centre of Forensic Sciences
- Duties of a forensic toxicologist
- Court testimony
- Research and method development
- Forensic analytical toxicology
- Modernization of toxicology
Forensic Toxicology Analytical Methods and Quality Assurance
Sample Collection, Handling, and Storage
Procedures for the collection, handling, and storage of biological and non-biological samples for toxicological analysis.
- Stomach contents examination
- Qualitative analysis
- Sample collection containers
- Preservative and anti-coagulant
- Sodium fluoride
- Sodium citrate
- Tamper evident seals
- Non-biological samples
- Biological hazard risks
- Sample handling safety
- Short term storage
- Long term storage
- Bacterial action inhibition
Sample Collection, Handling, and Storage in Forensic Toxicology
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Forensic Toxicology Analytical Methodology and Quality Assurance
Documentation of planned and systematic actions including quality assurance, quality control, accreditation, method validation, and standard operating procedures for forensic toxicology.
- Quality Assurance
- Chain of custody
- Standard operating procedures
- Training and Competency testing
- Proficiency testing
- Quality Control
- Internal standards
- Measurement uncertainty
- Accreditation
- ISO/IEC 17025 standards
- Method Validation
- Limit of detection
- Low Cut Off
- Accuracy and Precision
- Intra-assay and Inter-assay
- Extract stability
Forensic Toxicology: Analytical Methodology and Quality Assurance
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Forensic Analytical Methods and QA
Challenges for analytical testing include limitations in sample volume and the necessity of general screening and targeted analysis to identify and quantitate drugs.
- Challenges for Analytical Testing
- General Screening
- Targeted Analysis
- Specificity versus Sensitivity
- Qualitative versus Quantitative Analysis
- Sample Handling
- Spectroscopy
- Electromagnetic Radiation
Analytical Methods in Forensic Toxicology
This content covers visible spectrophotometry for measuring carboxyhaemoglobin and immunoassay techniques including ELISA testing for drug detection.
- Visible Spectrophotometry
- Carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb)
- Immunoassay
- Antigen
- Antibody
- Competitive binding assay
- Benzodiazepines
- Cannabinoid metabolites
- Cocaine and metabolites
- Opiates
- Cross reactivity
- False positive
Analytical Methods and Sample Preparation
Sample preparation procedures including LLE and SPE are used to isolate and concentrate drugs for analysis by instrumentation such as GC-MS and LC-MS/MS.
- Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE)
- Solid-phase extraction (SPE)
- Internal standards
- Deuterated internal standards
- Sample matrix isolation
- Protein crash
- GC-FID
- GC-MS
- LC-MS/MS
- LC-QTOF-MS
- Analyte concentration
Gas Chromatography and Analytical Methods
Chromatography is a separation process achieved by distributing substances between a mobile phase and a stationary phase using gas or liquid chromatography.
- Chromatography
- Gas Chromatography
- Liquid Chromatography
- Mobile Phase
- Stationary Phase
- Retention Time
- Relative Retention Time
- Flame Ionization Detector
- GC-FID
- Headspace Gas Chromatography
- Internal Standard Method
- Quantitation
- GC-MS
- Mass Spectrometry
Analytical Methods and Mass Spectrometry
This content covers mass spectrometry principles, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, and measurement uncertainty in analytical processes.
- Ionization
- Mass separation
- Mass spectrum
- Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry
- Full Scan mode
- Selected Ion Monitoring (SIM)
- Liquid Chromatography
- Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
- Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM)
- Triple quadrupole Mass Spectrometer
- UPLC-QTOF-MS Screening
- Measurement Uncertainty (MU)
- Internal Standard Method
Fundamentals of Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics, and Drug Classes
Over-The-Counter and Prescription Drugs
An overview of caffeine and nicotine including their chemical properties, physiological effects, and metabolism.
- Over-the-counter drugs
- Caffeine
- Adenosine receptors
- Blood-brain barrier
- Nicotine
- Smoking cessation products
- Cotinine
Acetylsalicylic Acid and Acetaminophen Pharmacology
Information regarding Acetylsalicylic Acid (ASA) and Acetaminophen therapeutic effects, mechanisms of action, adverse effects, and overdose toxicity.
- Acetylsalicylic Acid (ASA)
- Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
- Prostaglandins
- Cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1)
- Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)
- Analgesic effect
- Anti-pyretic effect
- Anti-inflammatory effect
- Anti-coagulant
- Acetaminophen
- N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI)
- Glutathione depletion
- Liver toxicity
- LC-MS/MS
Pharmacology of Acetylsalicylic Acid and Acetaminophen
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OTC and Prescription Drug Pharmacology
This content discusses the mechanisms, therapeutic indications, and toxicity of various antihistamines, melatonin, synthetic opioids, and stimulants.
- Histamine H1 receptor agonist
- First generation antihistamines
- Diphenhydramine
- Second generation antihistamines
- Melatonin
- Dextromethorphan
- Loperamide
- Pseudoephedrine
- Blood brain barrier
- Central nervous system depressants
- Opioid receptors
- Toxicity and abuse potential
Pharmacology of Benzodiazepines and Prescription Drugs
This material covers prescription drugs and the benzodiazepine class of drugs that work on the central nervous system by binding to GABA-A receptors.
- Prescription drugs
- Benzodiazepines
- GABA-A receptors
- Central nervous system
- Anxiety treatment
- Panic disorders
- Muscle relaxants
- Anticonvulsants
- Sedation
- Insomnia treatment
- Alcohol withdrawal
- Blood-brain barrier
- Drug tolerance
- Drug dependence
- Psychomotor impairment
- Alprazolam
- Temazepam
- Triazolam
- Novel Psychoactive Substances
OTC and Prescription Antidepressant Drugs
Antidepressant drugs including Tricyclic Antidepressants, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors, and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are used in the treatment of depression.
- Antidepressants
- Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)
- Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI)
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Monoamine Neurotransmitters
- Dopamine
- Norepinephrine
- Serotonin
- Serotonin Syndrome
- Bupropion
Introduction to Basic Pharmacology and Toxicology
Pharmacology is the science concerned with the fate of drugs in the body and their actions on the body.
- Pharmacokinetics
- Pharmacodynamics
- Toxicology
- Drug Therapy
- Natural Drugs
- Semi-Synthetic Drugs
- Synthetic Drugs
- Biologic Drugs
- Drug Classifications
- Chemical Name
- Generic Name
- Brand/Trade/Proprietary Name
Drug Formulations, Pharmacokinetics, and Administration Routes
This content covers drug formulations, pharmacokinetics including absorption and distribution, and various enteral, parenteral, and other routes of administration.
- Drug Formulations
- Solids
- Liquids
- Pharmacokinetics
- Absorption
- Distribution
- Metabolism
- Elimination
- Enteral Administration
- Parenteral Administration
- Oral Route
- Sublingual Route
- Rectal Route
- Intravenous Injection
- Intramuscular Injection
- Subcutaneous Injection
- Inhalation
- Intranasal Administration
- Topical Application
- Transdermal Patches
Pharmacokinetics: Drug Distribution, Metabolism, and Elimination
This topic covers factors affecting drug distribution, volume of distribution, hepatic metabolism through Phase I and Phase II processes, and various routes of drug elimination.
- Factors affecting distribution
- Blood flow supply
- Capillary permeability
- Plasma protein binding
- Solubility and ionization
- Volume of distribution (Vd)
- Total Body Water (TBW)
- Biotransformation
- Phase I metabolism
- Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases
- Phase II metabolism
- Conjugation
- Prodrugs
- Toxic metabolites
- Renal elimination
- Biliary excretion
- Pulmonary elimination
- Sweat and hair elimination
Pharmacology Elimination and Steady State Kinetics
Principles of first-order and zero-order elimination kinetics, non-enzymatic breakdown, and steady state kinetics in drug metabolism.
- First-Order Elimination Kinetics
- Elimination Half-life
- Non-Enzymatic Breakdown
- Steady State Kinetics
- Zero-Order Elimination Kinetics
- Drug Overdose Kinetics
- Enzyme Saturation
- Metabolites
Fundamentals of Pharmacodynamics and Drug Interactions
Pharmacodynamics describes what the drug does to the body through binding, mechanism of action, and physiological or biochemical changes.
- Pharmacodynamics
- Blood-brain barrier
- Receptors
- Agonist
- Antagonist
- Partial Agonists
- Allosteric Modulators
- Drug-Drug Interactions
- Induction
- Inhibition
Pharmacology of Drug Tolerance and Interactions
This content examines drug tolerance mechanisms, including metabolic and functional aspects, cross tolerance, and drug-drug interactions such as additive, synergistic, and antagonistic effects.
- Tolerance
- Metabolic tolerance
- Enzyme induction
- Functional tolerance
- Abstinence syndrome
- CNS depressants
- Respiratory depression
- Cross tolerance
- CNS stimulants
- Sensitization
- Reverse tolerance
- Drug-drug interactions
- Additive effects
- Synergistic effect
- Antagonistic effect
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