Validation of a procedure for the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of cocaine and metabolites in pericardial fluid.

A method is described for the simultaneous quantification of cocaine, benzoylecgonine, and cocaethylene in pericardial fluid. Pericardial fluid samples from autopsy casework involving cocaine-related deaths and deaths unrelated to drug abuse were collected. The extraction of cocaine and its metabolites was performed using Bond-Elut Certify columns.

Application of pericardial fluid to the analysis of morphine (heroin) and cocaine in forensic toxicology.

In this study opiates (morphine and codeine) and cocaine and its related metabolites (benzoylecgonine and cocaethylene) were analyzed in pericardial fluid by GC/MS. This is the first study reporting levels of drugs of abuse in this body fluid. The analytical method used has been previously validated and then applied to 54 drug-related deaths in the Barcelona area (Spain).

STR frequencies for the PowerPlex 16 System Kit in a population from Northeast Spain.

The aim of this paper, was to obtain the frequencies for the 15 STR loci included in the PowerPlex 16 System Kit on a population of 204 unrelated Caucasian individuals living in Northeast of Spain in order to use for forensic purposes. Statistical analyses were performed using the programs GENEPOP version 3.3 and Powerstats version 1.