This document discusses the role of forensic toxicologists and the process they follow. It begins by listing some forensic chemistry laboratories in South Africa and their roles. It then describes the intelligence cycle that toxicologists follow, which involves defining the problem, collecting information through various analytical techniques like chromatography-mass spectrometry, interpreting the results, and disseminating conclusions in a report. The document provides examples of the types of samples toxicologists analyze and the tools and methods they use to identify compounds and determine their presence.

1. THE ROLE OF THE
FORENSIC TOXICOLOGIST

2. NOTE
The views expressed in this
presentation are my own and in no
way reflect official views or policy of
the National Department of Health.

3. FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
LABORATORIES
• Pretoria – food and post mortem
toxicology (blood & urine only)
• Johannesburg – post mortem toxicology
(tissue, blood, urine and exhibits). No
clear decision on ‘living’ people.
• Cape Town – food and post mortem
toxicology.

4. THE INTELLIGENCE CYCLE AND
FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY
The Intelligence Cycle:
OC’s mission
Intelligence
problem
Intelligence
appreciation
Collection
Intelligence
process
Dissemination
Re-appreciation

5. THE INTELLIGENCE CYCLE
CONTINUED …..
• The Intelligence cycle consists of
three basic activities:
1. An intellectual process – defining the intelligence
problem and formulating a possible hypothesis.
2. A mechanical process – collection and notation.
3. An intellectual process – interpretation of the
collected information.

6. THE MISSION . . . .
• Establish whether a drug/poison is present.
“general” tox screen.
• Alcohol in blood. DD & PM.
• Plant related poisonings
• Drugs of abuse
– Criminal prosecutions.
– Treatment programs.
– Prison programs.
– Saliva testing.
– Workplace.
• Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA).
• Hair analysis (DFSA & child abuse cases)

7. DEFINING THE PROBLEMS
• Area of influence.
• Area of interest.
• Time available.
• Resources available.

8. Scope of Forensic Toxicology
Volatiles
Blood Alcohol
“Glue”,
thinners,
“Poppers”
Metals
Inorganic
Ions
Organic toxins,
drugs, pesticides,
plant material,
animal?

9. APPRECIATION
• What we know about the case (case
history).
• What we know about the possible
actives in terms of pharmacology,
stability, chemistry etc.
• What we know about the alleged
suspect.

11. COLLECTION
• Sources of information:
– Case history.
– Autopsy records.
• Resources available:
– Knowledge, skills, attitude.
– Instrumentation.

12. WHAT DO WE HAVE?
• Complex sample(s):
– Tissue, viscera, blood, urine.
– Hair.
– Exhibits.
• Case history.
• Methodology:
– Extraction procedure.
– Instrumentation.

13. TOOLS AVAILABLE TO THE
FORENSIC TOXICOLOGIST
• Gas chromatography.
• Liquid chromatography.
• Detectors:
– FID, ECD, FPD, TCD
– Photodiode array, Refractive index,
electrochemical.
– Mass Spectrometry.
• Inductively Coupled Plasma.

14. CHROMATOGRAPHY
4x 4
Warehouse
Bar
Car spares
BMW
Showroom
PC ware
house
Sports
Bar
Arms &
Leisure
Sports Car
warehouse
CNA
Bar
Stamps
Hobby
shop
Toys for
Boys
Sports
bar
Merc
show
room
Music
shop
Teasers
Sports
Bar

17. CHROMATOGRAMS
AU
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
1.60
1.80
2.00
2.20
Minutes
5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00 35.00 40.00 45.00 50.00 55.00 60.00
37.042
37.759
38.688
39.443
40.016
41.454
42.401
0.00
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
m/z
50.00 100.00 150.00 200.00 250.00 300.00 350.00 400.00
231.10
243.20
256.10
271.20
299.20
314.20

18. IDENTIFICATION OF
COMPOUNDS
• Two dimensional data (x,y) vs three
dimensional data (x,y,z) – fourth
dimension?
• FTIR
• PDA
0.00
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
0.90
1.00
1.10
1.20
1.30
1.40
nm
250.00 300.00 350.00 400.00 450.00 500.00 550.00
223.8
270.9
305.2

19. MASS SPECTROMETRY
• Mathematical brain teaser

20. ( m a in l ib ) W a t e r
1 0 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 1 6 1 7 1 8 1 9 2 0 2 1 2 2 2 3 2 4 2 5 2 6 2 7 2 8 2 9 3 0
0
5 0
1 0 0
1 7
1 8
H
O
H
H = 1; C = 12; O = 16; N = 14; Cl =
35
?

21. ( m a in l ib ) C a r b o n m o n o x id e
1 0 1 2 1 4 1 6 1 8 2 0 2 2 2 4 2 6 2 8 3 0 3 2 3 4 3 6 3 8 4 0
0
5 0
1 0 0
1 2
1 6
2 8
2 9
O
H = 1; C = 12; O = 16; N = 14; Cl =
35
?

22. ( m a in l ib ) C a r b o n d i o x id e
1 0 1 3 1 6 1 9 2 2 2 5 2 8 3 1 3 4 3 7 4 0 4 3 4 6 4 9 5 2 5 5 5 8
0
5 0
1 0 0
1 6
2 2
2 8
4 4
4 5
OO CC
H = 1; C = 12; O = 16; N = 14
?

23. ( m a in l ib ) M e t h a n e
1 0 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 1 6 1 7 1 8 1 9 2 0 2 1 2 2 2 3 2 4 2 5 2 6 2 7 2 8 2 9 3 0
0
5 0
1 0 0
1 2
1 3
1 4
1 5
1 6
1 7
H
H
H
H
H = 1; C = 12; O = 16; N = 14
?

24. ( m a in l ib ) D r o n a b in o l
2 0 4 0 6 0 8 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 1 4 0 1 6 0 1 8 0 2 0 0 2 2 0 2 4 0 2 6 0 2 8 0 3 0 0 3 2 0
0
5 0
1 0 0
2 9
3 4
4 1
5 5 6 7
8 1 9 1
1 0 7 1 2 1 1 4 7 1 6 0 1 7 4
1 9 3
2 1 7
2 3 1
2 4 3 2 5 8
2 7 1
2 8 5
2 9 9
3 1 4
OH
O
H = 1; C = 12; O = 16; N = 14
?

25. THE INTELLIGENCE PROCESS
• Evaluation.
– Authenticity, credibility, competence.
• Collation and comparison.
– Confirmation by another analytical
technique.
• Interpretation.
– Analysis, integration, formulation of a
conclusion.

26. DISSEMINATION
• Report compliant to requirements of
Section 212 of the Criminal Procedures
Act.
• Sworn affidavit.