Guidelines for Collection of Biological Samples for Clinical and Forensic Toxicological Analysis

Abstract

This article aims to review general procedures for sampling of routinely collected as well as on alternative samples that may provide additional information regarding intoxication. These approaches may be applied whenever sample collection for clinical and forensic toxicology is required and should be considered as general guidelines that must be adapted to each specific case. It is expected that this article will help toxicologists and other forensic experts to accomplish their mission, since the toxicological result is first influenced by the quality and quantity of the sample available for analysis. These guidelines were approved by the European Council of Legal Medicine.

Intra- and extra-familial child homicide in Sweden 1992–2012: A population-based study

“…A key mechanism in the process of post-mortem redistribution is the post-mortal loss of cell structure and cell integrity. Blood samples from ligated peripheral vessels (such as the femoral artery or vein) are best suited for analysis, since these vessels are located far from the abdominal and thoracic organs, in whose proximity post-mortem redistribution may distort the concentrations of the substances of interest (Dinis-Oliveira et al, 2016;Mozayani & Noziglia, 2011). Even in cardiac blood, which is easily accessible and commonly used in forensic toxicology, the effects of post-mortem redistribution have been shown to cause up to 10-fold changes in concentration (Drummer & Gerostamoulos, 2002).…”

“…The control population in study II is very similar to the one used in study III, except for the exclusion in the former study of a small number of controls in whom analyses of ethanol were lacking or had been performed using other tissues than blood. It should be noted that a quantitative measure of ethanol was of interest in study II, whereas no quantitative estimates were required regarding the different medicat- ions that were analyzed in study III; the exclusion of a small number of controls is thus motivated by the fact that quantitative measures only can be performed in plasma, serum or blood (Dinis-Oliveira et al, 2016). In studies I-III, for living subjects (i.e., offenders), biological sampling had to have been performed within 48 hours post offense.…”

Sample Traceability in Toxicology

“…In patients who must initiate vital support measures, it is important to contemplate that the indicated therapeutic measures [2] can modify the results of the biomarkers. Therefore, it's important to proceed to the taking of samples before the beginning of these measures.…”

Determination of barbiturates in hair samples by using a validated UHPLC-HRMS method: application in investigation of drug-facilitated sexual assault

“…The development of analytical techniques has enabled sensitive determination of drugs in unconventional matrices, such as hair [3][4][5]. Hair is a unique biological sample for retrospective detection of drug exposure when the sampling procedure in DFSA case was delay [6][7][8][9]. Segmental analysis of hair strands provides useful information on historic pattern of drug use, enabling differentiation between single-dose exposure in DFSA cases and chronic use in clinic therapy [10][11][12][13].…”