Forensic Evidence

Forensic Evidence

Forensic drug analysis deals with the identification and quantification of illegal drugs. Forensic drug tests are generally carried out in two step  Screening and confirmation.1-3 Once drugs are detected through screening, for example spot test kits (e.g., immunoassays, Marquis test, etc), samples are then collected and sent to laboratories for confirmation tests. Confirmation requires high sensitivity and selectivity toward drugs, as well as their metabolites, and is frequently carried out by GC/MS. Gas chromatography (GC) is based on the separation of volatile samples by their unique affinity for the column. Target drug compounds in the sample are identified by their retention times when samples are passed through chromatographic columns. GC coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) is a powerful technique because structures of unknown compounds can be identified after they have been separated by GC. Other analytical instruments, such as HPLC, FTIR, and UV/Vis are found in forensic laboratories as complementary techniques


Last Updated on: Nov 26, 2024

Global Scientific Words in General Science