Deck 14: Forensic Toxicity Testing

Question 1

If an acid digestion is done on the brain of a corpse and steam is used to release the toxicants of interest, with what might this person might be poisoned?

Answer 1

Volatiles might have poisoned this person including acetaldehyde, acetone, CO, CN, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, phenols or anions such as Br, F, or oxalate.

Question 2

If an athlete used an illegal performance-enhancing medication and this athlete's samples were lost, what might still contain the drug weeks to a few months later?

Answer 2

Proteins would really need the blood work as would the original compound. The urine would have the metabolites of medications but not the proteins or peptides. Hair samples are the only ones that might contain samples of the medication weeks to a few months later.

Question 3

If a person came in experiencing toxidromes consistent with changes in the anion gap and hepatic damage, which toxicants are consistent with these effects?

Answer 3

The hepatic damage could be due to acetaldehyde, acetaminophen, aflatoxin, Amanita phalloides, CCl₄, a variety of other chlorinated hydrocarbons, halothane, phenol, phosphorus or valproic acid while the anion gap alterations may be due to acetaminophen, adrenergic medications, CO, CN, Fe, isoniazid, salicylates, theophylline, toxic alcohols, or valproic acid. A GC-MS profile would like test for high concentrations of acetaminophen and metabolite sin the plasma.

Question 4

Liver enzymes found in the plasma are usually a sign of statin or acetaminophen toxicity but could be due to excess iron or other liver toxicants. What might separate the toxicity on a corpse but would not be highly recommended on a surviving person?