ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 April 1983
Page Count: 7

The General Toxicology Unknown I. The Systematic Approach
Donoghue, ER
Toxicologist and GC/MS section chief, chief toxicologist, assistant chief toxicologist, toxicologist, deputy chief medical examiner, and chief medical examiner, Cook County Institute of Forensic Medicine, Office of the Medical Examiner, IL

Schaffer, MI
Toxicologist and GC/MS section chief, chief toxicologist, assistant chief toxicologist, toxicologist, deputy chief medical examiner, and chief medical examiner, Cook County Institute of Forensic Medicine, Office of the Medical Examiner, IL

Kurland, ML
Toxicologist and GC/MS section chief, chief toxicologist, assistant chief toxicologist, toxicologist, deputy chief medical examiner, and chief medical examiner, Cook County Institute of Forensic Medicine, Office of the Medical Examiner, IL

Wu Chen, NB
Toxicologist and GC/MS section chief, chief toxicologist, assistant chief toxicologist, toxicologist, deputy chief medical examiner, and chief medical examiner, Cook County Institute of Forensic Medicine, Office of the Medical Examiner, IL

Lin, R-L
Toxicologist and GC/MS section chief, chief toxicologist, assistant chief toxicologist, toxicologist, deputy chief medical examiner, and chief medical examiner, Cook County Institute of Forensic Medicine, Office of the Medical Examiner, IL

Stein, RJ
Toxicologist and GC/MS section chief, chief toxicologist, assistant chief toxicologist, toxicologist, deputy chief medical examiner, and chief medical examiner, Cook County Institute of Forensic Medicine, Office of the Medical Examiner, IL

(Received 1 March 1982; accepted 9 August 1982)

Abstract

The general toxicology unknown often presents challenges and interests to toxicologists. A systematic analytical approach to search for drugs or poisons is presented here. The preliminary screening analyses were as follows: alcohol by gas chromatography (GC), ethchlorvynol colorimetric analysis, enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT), basic drug screening by GC, and neutral and weakly acidic drug screening by GC. Other additional analyses were performed depending on the special circumstance of each individual case and the results of these preliminary analyses. Positive findings were confirmed by computerized gas chromatography/mass spectrometry when practical. Quantitation was performed by GC whenever possible.

Keywords:
toxicology, chromatographic analysis, screening procedures, general toxicology unknown, systematic approach, mass spectrometric analysis

Paper ID: JFS11520J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS11520J
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