Advisor(s)

Forrest Clingerman, PhD
Ohio Northern University
Religion, Humanities & Global Culture
f-clingerman@onu.edu

Dennis De Luca, PhD
Ohio Northern University
Forensic Biology, Science, Technology, and Mathematics
d-deluca@onu.edu

Document Type

Video

Start Date

23-4-2021 9:00 AM

Abstract

Forensic drug chemistry involves the use of a series of analytical tests to detect the presence of and identify controlled substances. Controlled substances are classified by the federal government into one of five schedules, determined by their potential for abuse and current accepted medical use in the United States. Forensic drug chemistry identifies controlled substances to determine their schedule to assist the criminal justice system in investigations and sentencing procedures. Controlled substance testing begins with a presumptive test. This type of test is very general and determines the presence of a controlled substance in a sample, but cannot verify its identification. Confirmatory tests are a second, more specific test used to provide an identification for an unknown sample. There are several analytical confirmation tests available to use, but some are better suited under certain conditions. Fourth of the most common analytical techniques for controlled substance testing are UV-Vis, GC-MS, LC-MS, and FTIR. This presentation will introduce all of these techniques to explain the testing process and how they produce results, and will focus on the advantages and disadvantages of each to determine when each one would be most appropriate to use in forensic drug chemistry testing.

Notes

This presentation is part of the Honors Capstone Enhancement Presentation series.

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Apr 23rd, 9:00 AM

Forensic Drug Chemistry: Comparison of The Most Common Analytical Testing Techniques

Forensic drug chemistry involves the use of a series of analytical tests to detect the presence of and identify controlled substances. Controlled substances are classified by the federal government into one of five schedules, determined by their potential for abuse and current accepted medical use in the United States. Forensic drug chemistry identifies controlled substances to determine their schedule to assist the criminal justice system in investigations and sentencing procedures. Controlled substance testing begins with a presumptive test. This type of test is very general and determines the presence of a controlled substance in a sample, but cannot verify its identification. Confirmatory tests are a second, more specific test used to provide an identification for an unknown sample. There are several analytical confirmation tests available to use, but some are better suited under certain conditions. Fourth of the most common analytical techniques for controlled substance testing are UV-Vis, GC-MS, LC-MS, and FTIR. This presentation will introduce all of these techniques to explain the testing process and how they produce results, and will focus on the advantages and disadvantages of each to determine when each one would be most appropriate to use in forensic drug chemistry testing.