Analysis of Cocaine in Post Mortem Samples Using Clean Screen DAU SPE

Post mortem samples present the toxicologist with more challenges than most samples seen in forensic laboratories. The condition and volumes of the matrix can add to difficulties to be overcome. UCT is keenly aware of these issues, and for more than 25 years has offered forensic toxicology analysts the best solution with the well-known Clean Screen DAU Solid Phase Extraction column. This SPE material is unsurpassed, not only in its range of analytes, but in its efficiency in isolating from a wide variety of post mortem matrices. In the recent issue of Journal of Analytical Toxicology (March 2012, pp 141-143) Dr. Juhascik (UMass Memorial Hospital, MA) and his team report the finding of a isopropyl artifact in post mortem samples. The samples were comprehensively and completely analyzed for the presence of cocaine and metabolites. This work follows Dr. Juhascik's work comparing the efficiencies of liquid-liquid extraction vs SPE (Journal of Analytical Toxicology (2009 , 47, 553-557) where they determined that SPE (using Clean Screen DAU) far exceeded the liquid-liquid extraction in performance and efficiency.