Journal
FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY
Volume 32, Issue 1, Pages 139-147Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s11419-013-0199-0
Keywords
QuEChERS; LC-MS/MS; Liver specimen; Solid tissue analysis; Benzodiazepines; Zopiclone
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Funding
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI [24790637]
- Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research [24790637] Funding Source: KAKEN
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In forensic toxicological analysis, liver is commonly used as an alternative biological specimen in cases in which blood and urine cannot be obtained. Liver samples are generally purified by a solid-phase extraction (SPE) technique after homogenization. The homogenizer probe cleaning process is laborious and has a risk of cross-contamination, and the SPE technique itself is tedious and time consuming. The QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, Safe) method is widely acknowledged in some fields, such as food analysis, as a simple, fast, and reliable method. We previously developed a modified QuEChERS method for forensic toxicological analysis in human whole blood and urine. In this study, we applied this method to liver samples from forensic cases and successfully detected not only targeted drugs (i.e., benzodiazepines, zopiclone, and zolpidem) but also various types of drugs. This method has no risk of cross-contamination because homogenization of the liver and extraction of the drugs are simultaneously performed in a disposable plastic tube. In addition, the total process time is approximately 5 min. We recommend the modified QuEChERS method for extraction of drugs from both fluid and solid samples, such as liver, in forensic cases.
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