Postmortem findings of the victims of the Jonestown tragedy.

The procedure for processing and identifying the victims of the Jonestown, Guyana tragedy is outlined. Autopsies were performed on seven of the victims, and the autopsy anatomic and toxicologic findings are presented. Problems encountered in the interpretation of the autopsy findings are noted.

The confirmation of 9-carboxy-THC in urine by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

A mass spectral method for the identification of the urine metabolite of THC, 11-nor-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid, has been developed. The metabolite is extracted from the urine, derivatized to the methyl ester, methyl ether, and analyzed on a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer. Identification of the metabolite is based on the retention time of the derivatized compound and its electron impact (EI) or chemical ionization (CI) mass spectrum. The EI spectrum shows three characteristic ions at masses 313, 357, and 372 (the molecular ion). When methane is used as the reactant gas, the CI spectrum shows an ion at 341 and an M + 1 ion at mass 373.

Confirmation of a tetrahydrocannabinol metabolite in urine by gas chromatography.

A new method for confirming urinary 11-nor-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid, the major metabolite of tetrahydrocannabinol, has been developed. The metabolite is extracted, derivatized to the methyl ester, methyl ether, and analyzed on a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector. In spiked urine specimens, metabolite concentrations as low as 20 ng/mL have been detected by this procedure. In a random sampling of urines, greater than 95% correlation was obtained between confirmation by this method and confirmation by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in those specimens producing an immunological response greater than 75 ng/mL.

Analytical instrumentation in toxicology.

An ever-growing number of analytical instruments are appearing in forensic and toxicology laboratories. The demand for increased instrumentation has resulted from the rigid qualitative and quantitative requirements placed on the modern toxicologist, as well as from the need for control of the proliferation of toxic substances. This demand is definitely apparent in the toxicological investigation of aircraft accidents, with which the authors are currently concerned. The advent of microporcessor-controlled instrumentation plus an improvement in instrument reliability and efficiency has turned the traditional toxicology laboratory into a highly complex, electronic testing facility. The advantages of analytical instrumentation and the inherent dangers and precautions confronting the forensic scientist and the toxicologist will be presented.

The effect of formaldehyde solution in the gas chromatographic determination of morphine.

Morphine glucuronide upon acid hydrolysis and in the presence of formaldehyde solution is converted to three primary compounds as determined by gas chromatography. The importance of this conversion as it pertains to the total quantity of morphine in formaldehyde-fixed specimens is discussed. A request for quantitation--in a suspected case of morphine overdose after the body had been embalmed but before an autopsy could be performed--initiated the research discussed in this article.

Metabolite sensitivity in the methaqualone radioimmunoassay.

Recent literature reflects the increased use of RIA as a qualitative and quantitative tool. This study exemplifies the problems that may arise when this technique is used for quantitation. Caution must be exercised, and a physiological and toxicological understanding of each particular drug is essential to provide credible results. It is evident that the sensitivity and ease of the RIA method for methaqualone makes it invaluable as a screening test, but confirmation and quantitation of this drug must remain with those methods that can quantitate each metabolite.