Authors: Lindsey T.¹; O'Hara J.²; Irvine R.²; Kerrigan S.¹

Source: Journal of Analytical Toxicology, Volume 28, Number 2, March 2004 , pp. 135-137(3)

Publisher: Preston Publications

Abstract:

A 52-year-old male was discovered supine on his bed in a state of early decomposition. Commercial strychnine-treated gopher pellets were found in the home, and suicide notes were present at the scene. Biological fluids and tissues were tested for basic, acidic, and neutral drugs using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Concentrations of strychnine in heart and femoral blood were 0.96 and 0.31 mg/L, respectively. Vitreous fluid, bile, urine, liver, and brain specimens contained 0.36 mg/L, 1.17 mg/L, 2.92 mg/L, 4.59 mg/kg, and 0.86 mg/kg strychnine, respectively. No other drugs were detected in any of the samples. The cause of death was attributed to rodenticide poisoning, and the manner of death was suicide.

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: New Mexico Department of Health, Scientific Laboratory Division, Toxicology Bureau, Albuquerque, New Mexico 2: New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Publication date: 2004-03-01

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• The Journal of Analytical Toxicology (JAT), established in 1977 and published 9 times a year, is the international source covering a broad range of clinical, forensic, and industrial laboratory topics regarding the isolation, identification, and quantitation of potentially toxic substances.

  With an emphasis on practical application, JAT articles provide improved and novel techniques for use in clinical, forensic, workplace, sports testing (doping), and other toxicology laboratories. Articles describe newly developed methods in immunoassay testing, gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, atomic absorption spectrometry, solid and liquid phase extraction techniques, and other analytical approaches. Worldwide readership includes toxicologists, pathologists, chemists, clinicians, researchers, and educators working in medical examiner and law enforcement laboratories, hospitals, university and independent analytical laboratories, as well as the drug manufacturing industry.

  Each year in October, we publish a special issue from the Society of Forensic Toxicologists.

  JAT, as determined by ISI Citation Index, is one of the two most referenced international journals in forensic science.

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