Stability of Cocaine Compounds in Biological Fluids During Post-Analytical Sample Storage.

The objective of this study is to evaluate in vitro stability of cocaine compounds, cocaine (COC), benzoylecgonine (BE), ecgonine methyl ester (EME) and benzoylecgonine ethyl ester (EBE), in blood and urine, during post-analysis custody. Stability was evaluated by measuring percent recovery. Parameters evaluated were time of custody (1 year), storage temperature (-20°C and 4°C), influence of preservative (only for blood samples) and pH (only for urine samples).

Stability studies in biological fluids during post-analysis custody. Opiate compounds derived from heroin consumption.

In Forensic Toxicology, the evidences have to be maintained under custody for, at least, one year. Depending on the conditions and duration of storage, drug concentrations might have changed considerably since the first analysis. The aim of this study is to evaluate in vitro stability of opiate compounds, derived from heroin consumption, 6-acetylmorphine (6-MAM), morphine (MOR) and codeine (COD), in blood and urine, during post-analysis custody.

The tooth for molecular analysis and identification : a forensic approach.

The aim of this study is to optimize laboratory preparation of teeth for DNA identification. By sectioning the tooth topographically into two different radicular portions, it was analyzed whether these portions of mineralized tissue differ in the quantity and quality of DNA they contain. 25 teeth were subject to different experimental conditions and total DNA was quantified for each individual tooth's radicular portion: apical and remaining root, according to a 2003 study by Gaytemenn and Sweet.