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Postmortem Forensic Toxicology: Teri Martin Teri - Martin@jus - Gov.on - Ca September 23, 2003
Postmortem Forensic Toxicology: Teri Martin Teri - Martin@jus - Gov.on - Ca September 23, 2003
Postmortem Forensic Toxicology: Teri Martin Teri - Martin@jus - Gov.on - Ca September 23, 2003
Forensic
Toxicology
Teri Martin
teri.martin@jus.gov.on.ca
September 23, 2003
Outline
Types of cases:
• Suspected drug intoxication cases
• Fire deaths
• Homicides
• Driver and pilot fatalities
• Therapeutic drug monitoring
• Sudden infant death (SIDS)
Samples of Forensic Interest
Issues in Specimen Collection
• Selection
• Multiple, varied sites of collection
• Collection
• Appropriate method of collection
• Adequate volumes for analysis
• Storage and handling
• Blood
• Urine
• Stomach contents
• Bile
• Liver
• Hair
• Vitreous humor
Blood
Heart
• Peripheral sites
• Femoral
Iliac
• Iliac
• Subclavian
Femoral
• Other sites
• Head blood
• Hematoma blood
Hematoma
• Digestive secretion
• Continuously produced by the liver
• Stored in the gallbladder
• Pleural fluid
• Chest cavity blood
• Gutter blood
• Samples taken after embalming
• Samples taken after transfusion in hospital
• “Spleen squeezings”
• “Esophageal scrapings”
Chest Cavity Fluid
• Identification of samples
• Continuity
• Contents
• Specimens delivered to lab without delay
• Specimens should be analyzed as soon as possible
• Storage areas should be secure
Storage and Handling
• Preservative
• Sodium fluoride
• Anti-coagulants
• Sodium citrate
• Potassium oxalate
• EDTA
• Heparin
• Not imperative for postmortem blood samples
Determining analyses
• Case history
• Medical history
• Autopsy findings
• Symptomatology
• Experience of the toxicologist
• Amount of specimen available
• Nature of specimens available
• Policies of the organization
Pitfalls in Postmortem
Forensic Toxicology
Decomposition
• Autolysis
• The breakdown of cellular material by enzymes
• Putrefaction
• A septic/infectious process
• The destruction of soft tissues by the action of
bacteria and enzymes
• Traumatic deaths may demonstrate putrefaction
Decomposition
• Tricyclic • Narcotic
antidepressants Analgesics
• Amitriptyline • Codeine
• Nortriptyline • Oxycodone
• Imipramine • Propoxyphene
• Desipramine
• Antihistamines • Doxepin
• Diphenhydramine • Digoxin
Example: Digoxin
• Ethanol
• Carbon monoxide
• Cyanide
• Toluene
• Other alcohols
Example: Carbon Monoxide
• Methadone example:
• Naïve users - deaths due to methadone are
associated with blood levels > 0.02 mg/100 mL
• Patients on methadone maintenance – peak blood
concentrations may range up to 0.09 mg/100 mL
Interpretation
Case 1 Case 2
• Clorazepate nordiazepam
• Flurazepam N-desalkylflurazepam
• Heroin morphine
Metabolites: Toxicity
• Acetaminophen N-Acetylbenzoquinoneimine
• Meperidine normeperidine
• Methanol formic acid
• Ethylene glycol oxalic acid calcium oxalate