Identification of drugs by chemical ionization mass spectroscopy. II.

Abstract

Forensic scientists are currently actively evaluating new instrumental techniques to determine their potential application for solving some of the problems that are unique to their field. Liquid chromatography, flameless atomic absorption, electron scanning microscopy, and thermal analysis offer fertile areas for research and development. Mass spectroscopy is by no means a new instrumental technique; its application to analytical organic chemistry has been well documented since the early 1960's [1–4]. Unfortunately, its utilization in the forensic sciences has been minimal up to the present. A major limitation has been the cost and complexity of the instrument. However, with increased fundings becoming available to many laboratories and with the improved engineering and reliability of the latest generation of mass spectrometers, this technique is becoming feasible for many forensic laboratories. Its application to forensic drug identification has been demonstrated in previous publications [5–8].