Forensic Screening Research Articles

Forensic psychiatric screening reports – an update

In 2007 we published a study of the prosecution authorities' responses to the recommendations of 419 forensic psychiatric screening (short/minor) reports with focus on whether full reports ought to be issued or not. We found that among the 118 screening reports recommending a full report, 59 (50%) was followed by the authorities. Nonrecommendation for a full report was followed in 98% of the cases. Since the prosecution authorities dismissed half of the positive recommendations, we questioned the value and the validity of such reports. Our conclusions, however, did not include the 32 cases that had not been finalized at the time of the study. Including these cases in the current report, we found that among the 118 positive recommendations to instigate a full report, 81 (69%) were followed by the authorities. We therefore modify our conclusion in the way that screening reports apparently are valid and fulfill their purpose.

The rapid simultaneous tricyclic antidepressant determination by plasma deproteinization and liquid chromatography

Background: Imipramine, desipramine, amitriptyline and nortriptyline are widely prescribed antidepressant drugs in Asia because of their low price and high efficacy. The concentrations of these drugs in plasma need to be monitored for achieving efficient therapy. A simple, rapid and practical analytical method is required. Objective: To develop a plasma deproteinization process for rapid determination of imipramine, desipramine, amitriptyline or nortriptyline in plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Methods: A deproteinizing agent, with an acceptable accuracy and sensitivity, to precipitate plasma protein containing imipramine, desipramine, amitriptyline and nortriptyline was investigated along with the HPLC condition for resolving each of these compounds. The developed method was verified by performing a bio-analytical method validation, and by analyzing plasma samples from volunteers who received imipramine or amitriptyline. Results: Using clomipramine as an internal standard, the concentrations of imipramine, desipramine, amitriptyline and nortriptyline in plasma could easily be determined by precipitating plasma protein with acetonitrile and concentrated aqueous potassium phosphate solution prior to HPLC analysis. The mobile phase comprised of acetonitrile and 70 mM phosphate buffer (pH 6.1) (60/40 v/v). A separation was achieved on a C 18 column, and the effluent was measured by UV absorption at 251 nm or by EC detection at +1.0 V of glassy carbon against silver/ silver chloride reference electrode. The chromatographic separation was excellent, without interference from endogenous plasma constituents. All compounds were resolved in a run time of 12 minutes. The method was suitable for quantifying drug concentrations in the ranges of 40-900 ng/ml for UV detection or 4-900 ng/mL for EC detection. The relative standard intra-day and inter-day deviations for each compound in the plasma were less than 8%. The percentage of bias was within ±4% which confirmed the accuracy of the method. The method proved to be efficient and practical for determining the plasma concentrations of each compound, following the administration of imipramine or amitriptyline to volunteers. Conclusion: This developed method is very simple, rapid and inexpensive and is practical for routine therapeutic drug monitoring and forensic toxicological screening.

Conjugated steroids: analytical approaches and applications

An introduction to conjugated steroids and the justification for their analysis is provided covering both environmental and biological samples. Determining conjugated steroids or indeed any organic chemical which is conjugated upon excretion from the body has relevance in diagnostic monitoring, forensic screening and environmental analysis (from the endocrine disrupter perspective). The various analytical approaches and the accompanying issues are application-dependent. There are numerous options at each stage of analysis, from extraction, hydrolysis, derivatisation, and detection, and advances can be confined to the specific application for which it was developed. Emphasis is placed on the choice of separation and how gas or liquid chromatography necessitates different preparative stages to enable conjugated steroid determination. Possible future directions and research for conjugated steroid analysis are discussed.

A study of forensic psychiatric screening reports and their relationship to full psychiatric reports

In Norway the prosecuting authorities can request a forensic psychiatric screening report in order to determine whether a full forensic psychiatric report is required. This study explores three research questions. Are such screening reports considered relevant by the prosecution authorities? To what extent are their recommendations followed? What is the concordance of the conclusions of the screening reports and the full reports? This study analysed the screening reports issued on 419 defendants by Oslo Police District's Office for Forensic Psychiatry in 2002 – 2005, and the 91 (22%) full reports issued on these defendants. All reports were evaluated using a structured rating form. Of the 118 screening reports that recommended a full report, 50% were followed up by the prosecution authorities. In contrast, non-recommendation of a full report was almost always followed, while 16% of open recommendations resulted in a full report. Instigation of a full report was significantly associated with major crimes, and with positive recommendation compared to open recommendation. The concordance between screening and full reports was 46% regarding psychosis, 78% regarding unconsciousness, and 94% regarding mental retardation. Based on these findings, the value of the system of screening reports seems to lie primarily in negative recommendations. Low concordance between screening and full reports, and the limited follow-up of expert recommendations for full reports, indicate that the system has questionable validity.

白色系単繊維識別のスクリーニングへの蛍光顕微鏡の応用

Fibers seized from a crime scene are one of the most important evidence by providing useful information of the contact between the victim and the suspect, furthermore the suspect and the crime scene. A timeconsuming screening test is required before the following systematic identification. In the case of screening, the test for white fiber is more difficult, because the test includes visible color observation and morphological test of the cross section. Therefore, a fluorescent screening test of white fiber becomes extremely important for the forensic discrimination.In this paper, the new method for making the cross section is examined. First, about 5 mm length of single fiber is bonded to an adhesive tape (1 cm × 1 cm). Secondly, the tape is put on the side of a slide glass so that the fiber becomes vertical to the slide glass. Finally, the fiber on the adhesive tape is cut with a razor which could be used as a substitution blade. The obtained specimen can be used both for the observation of the cross section and for the fluorescent screening test. A fluorescent microscopy (340-380 nm) can be available for these purposes. This new method combining the observation of cross section and the measurement of fluorescence is quite useful for the forensic screening test of single fibers.

Forensic database study suggests selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors do not increase the risk of suicide in people taking antidepressants

Isacsson G, Holmgren P, Ahlner J. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants and the risk of suicide: a controlled forensic database study of 14,857 suicides. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2005;111:286–90.[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3][Web of Science][4]...

The inhibition by amines and amino acids of bleach-induced luminol chemiluminescence during forensic screening for blood

Sprays containing alkaline solutions of peroxide and luminol are used as presumptive screens for bloodstains at crime scenes. These sprays can be subject to interference from hypochlorite-based cleaning agents (bleaches), leading to false positive results. This paper reports the screening of amines for their ability to decrease the interference by bleach while not greatly affecting the reaction with blood. The addition of glycine (0.05 mol L −1) to the Grodsky formulation of luminol spray, together with an adjustment of the pH to 12, gave good discrimination between blood and bleach, and has the advantage that glycine is non-toxic compared to many other amines. The modified spray gave similar chemiluminescence intensity and duration as the unmodified Grodsky spray. However, it is recommended that this modification only be used when there is evidence that hypochlorite bleach may have been used at a scene. The amines triethylamine and sulfamate led to enhanced chemiluminescence in the presence of hypochlorite.

Relationship between race and ethnicity and forensic clinical triage dispositions.

Racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal justice system have been widely reported, as have racial and ethnic disparities in diagnoses and certain aspects of clinical management. This study examined the association between race and ethnicity and dispositions for pretrial defendants who were referred for forensic mental health evaluations. Available data were reviewed for all defendants in Massachusetts who were referred to a Massachusetts court clinic from 1994 to 2001 for a screening evaluation of their competence to stand trial, their criminal responsibility, or both. Logistic regression models were developed to assess the relationship between defendants' race and ethnicity and the likelihood that they would be referred for inpatient evaluation and the likelihood that they would be evaluated within a strict-security facility. Race or ethnicity of the pretrial defendants was identified by clinicians. Blacks, but not Hispanics, were significantly more likely than whites to be referred for an inpatient evaluation after an outpatient forensic screening evaluation. Among male defendants, both Hispanics and blacks were more likely than whites to be referred for an inpatient evaluation in a strict-security facility, regardless of diagnoses and the level of severity of the criminal charges. Racial and ethnic disparities in disposition decisions exist within the forensic mental health system. These disparities, however, likely reflect numerous clinician and nonclinician variables.

Detection and identification of carprofen and its in vivo metabolites in greyhound urine by capillary gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Rimadyl ® (carprofen) was administered orally to the racing greyhound at a dose of 2.2 mg kg −1. Following both alkaline and enzymatic hydrolysis, postadministration urine samples were extracted by mixed mode solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges to identify target analyte(s) for forensic screening and confirmatory analysis methods. The acidic isolates were derivatised as trimethylsilyl ethers (TMS) and analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Carprofen and five phase I metabolites were identified. Positive ion electron ionisation (EI +) mass spectra of the TMS derivatives of carprofen and its metabolites show a diagnostic base peak at M +⋅ −117 corresponding to the loss of COO–Si–(CH 3) 3 group as a radical. GC–MS with positive ion ammonia chemical ionisation (CI +) of the compounds provided both derivatised molecular mass and some structural information. Deutromethylation-TMS derivatisation was used to distinguish between aromatic and aliphatic oxidations of carprofen. The drug is rapidly absorbed, extensively metabolised and excreted as phase II conjugates in urine. Carprofen, three aromatic hydroxy and a minor N-hydroxy metabolite were detected for up to 48 h. For samples collected between 2 and 8 h after administration, the concentration of total carprofen ranged between 200 and 490 ng ml −1. The major metabolite, α-hydroxycarprofen was detected for over 72 h and therefore can also be used as a marker for the forensic screening of carprofen in greyhound urine.

Frontline immunochromatographic device for on-site urine testing of amphetamines: laboratory validation using authentic specimens.

We evaluated a new test device for amphetamines and methamphetamines (Frontline, cut-off limit 300 ng/mL) using authentic clinical and forensic specimens. The device is based on immunochromatography and is dipped into urine and read visually by comparison with a colour scale after a few minutes. A total of 658 specimens were tested by comparing results of the screening procedure with established immunoassays. Discordant results were further investigated by gas chromatography mass spectrometry or gas chromatography (with flame ionization detector). The Frontline device had a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 98%. When specimens were classified by urine amphetamine concentration, close agreement was obtained at concentrations below 150 ng/mL and above 1000 ng/mL. A small number of specimens with amphetamine concentrations between 300 and 1000 ng/mL tested negative in the Frontline test. This finding could to some extent be explained by the enantioselectivity of the antibodies in the Frontline test to d-amphetamine. We conclude that the performance of the Frontline test device for amphetamines is adequate for presumptive clinical and forensic screening.

Blood contamination during venepuncture and laboratory manipulations of specimen tubes

The contamination of the working environment was assessed using a forensic screening test for blood during venepuncture, transport and laboratory manipulation of specimen tubes. Different methods of collecting blood and different commercially available specimen tubes were also assessed using an in vitro system. Blood collected by needle and syringe caused more environmental contamination than did an evacuated container system. Of the commercially available specimen tubes, those with screw tops produced least environmental contamination.

High Performance Size Exclusion Chromatography on Microparticulate Silicas and its Application to Forensic Analysis

Abstract Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) on irregular silicas of 5–10 um particle size and 60–130 Å average pore size is shown to provide a rapid method for the comparison of a variety of forensically significant samples. Use of dual detectors (UV/fluorescence of UV/Refractive Index) was found to enhance the value of the technique for forensic screening.