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Forensic Book Recommendation
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 3:03 pm
by Schmitty
Does anyone have a recommendation for a book to work from in a food lab? I have a client request to analyze a sample for THC in a food product, and would probably resort to a sativa method (L/L extraction, dry down, TMS, GC/MS?).
What is the opinion on these works:
The Analysis of Controlled Substances, Cole (Wiley, 2003)
and
Handbook of Forensic Drug Analysis, Smith (Academic Press, 2004).
Thanks!
Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:01 pm
by ods-at-pacific
I think I would try to do this analysis using DART on a JEOL AccuTOF.
Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 7:07 pm
by Schmitty
Sorry, but I don't think my supervisor nor manager will let me spend 500k on a new instrument when we have five 5972/3s sitting around.
Good try, though.

Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:27 pm
by Victor
The book by Cole is an elementary text aimed at students taking a degree course in Forensic Science. I would not recommend it for the purpose that you require.
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 9:53 pm
by ckeller
I'm not sure if you question has been answered. I just found this forum. I work for a forensic lab doing controlled substance analysis. Email me with a phone number. If you are in US, I can call you and we can talk about the analysis. Or I can send you my phone number and you can call me
If you just need a screening test to tell you yes or not to the prescence of THC, you can do a Duquenois-Levine color test which is very simple to do.
Christy K.
ckeller@sbcsd.org
Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 1:55 pm
by Schmitty
Christy,
Thank you for the offer, and yes I am in the US. The client request for the THC determination hasn't really been pressed any further, so I think it is dead for now.
From what I found, I think that I would do a hexane extraction, followed by a dry down and derivatization.
Thanks,
John
Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 11:06 pm
by ckeller
The problem you may have - do you have THC standard to run on the GC/MS so you could get retention time?
Let me know if you need any help in the future.
Christy
Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 1:36 pm
by Schmitty
I would probably just buy the delta-9 methanolic solution from Aldrich.
What type of sample work-up do you have for "dry" THC suspect samples? I did an internship at the WI State Crime Lab many years ago. I was working on paint ID and arson accelerants for most of the time so I didn't get to do too much with the drug side of the lab.