Pilot-Reported Beta-Blockers Identified by Forensic Toxicology Analysis of Postmortem Specimens.

Introduction: This study compared beta-blockers reported by pilots with the medications found by postmortem toxicology analysis of specimens received from fatal aviation accidents between 1999 and 2015. Several studies have compared drugs using the standard approach: Compare the drug found by toxicology analysis with the drug reported by the pilot. This study uniquely examined first the pilot-reported medication and then compared it to that detected by toxicology analysis.

A new equation for calculating the maximum wait time for pilots who use an impairing medication.

Introduction: Pilots who use an impairing medication to treat a medical condition are required to wait an appropriate amount of time after completing the treatment before returning to duty. However, toxicology findings from fatal aviation accidents indicate not all pilots wait a sufficient period of time. Methods used today do not take into consideration the time required for the drug to reach subtherapeutic concentrations.

Effects of fluid load on human urine characteristics related to workplace drug testing.

During workplace drug testing, urine is tested for dilution, substitution and adulteration. Donors argue that these findings are due to medical, health or working conditions or diet and genetic differences. There is a paucity of data correlating changes in urine characteristics after a fluid load to various body parameters.

Drugs and alcohol found in civil aviation accident pilot fatalities from 2004-2008.

Introduction: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Aerospace Medicine sets medical standards needed to protect the public and pilots from death or injury due to incapacitation of the pilot. As a part of this process, toxicology testing is performed by the FAA on almost every pilot who is fatally injured in an aviation accident to determine the medical condition of the pilot, medications used by the pilot at the time of the accident, and the extent of impairment, if any.

Method: The data were extracted from the FAA toxicology database for all pilots who died from 2004 to 2008 in aviation accidents.

Increased cannabinoids concentrations found in specimens from fatal aviation accidents between 1997 and 2006.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) reported a 1.5-fold increase in the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of street cannabis seizures from 1997 to 2001 versus 2002 to 2006. This study was conducted to compare the changes, over those years, in blood and urine cannabinoid concentrations with the potency of THC reported in the cannabis plant.

Carboxyhemoglobin and blood cyanide concentrations in relation to aviation accidents.

Introduction: It is important in aviation accident investigations to determine if a fire occurred during flight or after the crash and to establish the source(s) of the toxic gases.

Methods: Bio-specimens from aviation accident fatalities are submitted to CAMI for analyses. In blood, CO is analyzed as carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) and hydrogen cyanide as cyanide (CN-).

Utilizing the urinary 5-HTOL/5-HIAA ratio to determine ethanol origin in civil aviation accident victims.

Specimens from fatal aviation accident victims are submitted to the FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute for toxicological analysis. During toxicological evaluations, ethanol analysis is performed on all cases. Care must be taken when interpreting a positive ethanol result due to the potential for postmortem ethanol formation.

Storage stability of simulator ethanol solutions for vapor-alcohol control tests in breath-alcohol analysis.

We conducted a one-year stability study on aqueous alcohol simulator solution, stored in sealed polyethylene bottles at 4 degrees C and at room temperature. Thirty-nine aliquots of simulator solution with a VAC target value of 0.079 +/- 0.