Members posters

A case of poly-drug use, including DOC, with toxicological screening that confirmed the presence of DOC in plasma samples.

2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP) has traditionally been utilised as a fungicide, dye, herbicide and as a secondary explosive. Despite the dangers demonstrated during World War I when workers became ill after exposure to
the chemical during production of explosives; DNP became popular as an anti-obesity agent in the late 1930s.

Analysis of hair in post-mortem toxicology provides a retrospective record of an individual’s drug history prior to death. This can provide important information to the pathologist, Coroner and the family of the deceased in understanding both the cause and circumstances surrounding the death.

Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG) is a water soluble, stable, non-volatile, direct metabolite of ethanol. Metabolism occurs as soon as alcohol enters the blood stream. More than 90% of alcohol consumed is metabolised in the liver, via the action of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). ADH catalyses the reaction in which alcohol is oxidised to acetaldehyde. This is then metabolised to acetate by aldehyde dehydrogenase and then to carbon dioxide. Other enzymes capable of metabolising alcohol include; catalase, the cytochrome P450 enzyme, CYP2E1 and microsomal oxidising systems (MEOS). Between 5-8% of unchanged alcohol is excreted in the urine, sweat and breath. The elimination of ethanol by enzymatic conjugation with glucuronic acid represents approximately 0.5 to 1.5% of the total ethanol elimination.

Herbal remedies as prophylaxis and treatment of a variety of ailments have been sought after and used for centuries. Herbal medicines and remedies for the treatment of impotence are widely available from Internet sites that promote them as “safe, herbal alternatives” and “100% natural” products. In the United Kingdom there are 3 phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor drugs available on prescription to treat impotence: sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil.3 Numerous Internet sites also claim to sell these drugs.

Glaucine is an anti-tussive agent, which is used therapeutically in several countries in the European Union, such as Romania and Bulgaria, as well as neighbouring countries, including Iceland and Russia. Therapeutic use of glaucine has been reported to be associated with dissociative type symptoms. Animal studies suggest that glaucine has central dopaminergic effects. Glaucine is a marketed pharmaceutical; this is the first reported case of confirmed toxicity associated with its recreational use.

Despite improvements in assays the number of false positive reports by participants in the UK National External Quality Assessment Scheme has remained relatively constant for the past 10 years.

The Analytical Performance of Laboratories Investigating LSD Use (on behalf of the UKNEQAS for drugs of abuse).

The External Quality Assessment of Laboratories Investigating Toxicology Cases (on behalf of the UKNEQAS for drugs of abuse in urine)

Analytical errors in quantification of drugs of abuse in urine.