Publications by authors named "Marie Martin-Fabritius"
The use of dried urine spots (DUS) can simplify sample handling, shipment and storage when compared to liquid urine samples. To prepare DUS, a small amount of urine is pipetted on a filter paper card. The subsequent drying of the specimen can prevent the post-sampling formation or degradation of substances (e.
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- In Switzerland, cannabis with more than 1% THC is regulated, allowing legal sale of CBD-rich products as tobacco substitutes.
- The study analyzed 531 cannabis samples to define classification thresholds based on the THC/CBD ratio, categorizing them as THC-rich or CBD-rich.
- An on-site test kit was evaluated for quickly distinguishing cannabis types, revealing that even low-THC CBD products can lead to THC blood levels exceeding legal driving limits.
Article Synopsis
- The study discusses using activated charcoal strips (ACS) to extract and concentrate ignitable liquid residues (ILRs) from fire debris in arson investigations, focusing on gas-phase adsorption of volatiles.
- This method offers an alternative to traditional liquid extraction techniques like carbon dioxide or hexane, as it includes automated thermo-desorption (ATD) for direct analysis with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
- The workflow allows for a portion of the ACS to be used for thermal desorption while retaining some for confirmation analysis, presenting a promising technique for fire debris analysis.
Heavy cannabis consumption is considered incompatible with safe driving. In Swiss traffic policy, drivers suspected of regular cannabis use are therefore required to undergo medical assessment of their long-term fitness to drive. A whole blood concentration of the cannabis metabolite 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ -tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH) of 40 µg/L is currently used by Swiss forensic experts as the decision limit for regular cannabis consumption.
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- PEth is a specific biomarker for long-term alcohol consumption, accumulating in the body after repeated drinking, making it useful for monitoring drinking behavior.
- In a study of 142 blood samples with varying blood alcohol concentrations (BAC), PEth levels were analyzed, revealing that specific thresholds could distinguish between moderate and excessive drinking.
- The findings showed that high concentrations of PEth (≥ 700 ng/mL for 16:0/18:1 and ≥ 300 ng/mL for 16:0/18:2) could indicate prolonged excessive drinking, even when BAC is below the legal driving limit of 1.6‰, suggesting the need for additional assessments of driving ability.