The Second Seven Years of the FAA’s Postmortem Forensic ToxicologyProficiency-Testing Program

Arvind K. ChaturvediKristi J. CraftPatrick S. CardonaPaul B. RogersDennis V. Canfield

Civil Aerospace Medical InstituteOklahoma City, OK 73125

October 2008

Final Report

DOT/FAA/AM-08/24Office of Aerospace MedicineWashington, DC 20591

OK-09-0434

NOTICE

This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest

of information exchange. The United States Government assumes no liability for the contents thereof.

___________

This publication and all Office of Aerospace Medicine technical reports are available in full-text from the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute’s publications Web site:

www.faa.gov/library/reports/medical/oamtechreports/index.cfm

�

Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No.

DOT/FAA/AM-08/24 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date

October 2008 6. Performing Organization Code

The Second Seven Years of the FAA's Postmortem ForensicToxicology Proficiency-Testing Program

7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. Chaturvedi AK, Craft KJ, Cardona PS, Rogers PB, Canfield DV

9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute P.O. Box 25082 11. Contract or Grant No. Oklahoma City, OK 73125

12. Sponsoring Agency name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered

Office of Aerospace Medicine Federal Aviation Administration 800 Independence Ave., S.W. Washington, DC 20591 14. Sponsoring Agency Code 15. Supplemental Notes This work was accomplished under approved tasks AM-B-98-TOX-202, AM-B-99-TOX-202, AM-B-00-TOX-202, AM-B-01-TOX-202, AM-B-02-TOX-202, AM-B-03-TOX-202, AM-B-04-TOX-202, and AM-B-05-TOX-202.

16. Abstract For aircraft accident investigations, samples from pilot fatalities are analyzed at the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) for the presence of combustion gases, alcohols/volatiles, and drugs. Throughout this forensic toxicological process, a high degree of quality control/quality assurance (QC/QA) is maintained, and quality improvement is continuously pursued. Under this philosophy, CAMI started a quarterly forensic toxicology proficiency-testing (PT) program in July 1991 for the analysis of postmortem specimens. In continuation of the first 7 years of the CAMI PT findings reported earlier, PT findings of the next 7 years (July 1998–April 2005) are summarized herein. During this period, 28 PT challenge survey samples (12 urine, 9 blood, and 7 tissue homogenate) with/without alcohols/volatiles, drugs, drug metabolites, and/or putrefactive amine(s) were submitted to an average of 31 participating laboratories, of which an average of 25 participants returned their result sheets—that is, 53–96% (mean = 82%). The number of respondents was dependent upon the complexity of the sample matrix, the number and types of analytes in the sample, and the associated analytical chemistry/toxicology. For example, ethanol/methanol/volatiles in urine were correctly quantitated by a higher number of participants than those for amphetamine/methamphetamine and cannabinoid levels in blood and tissues. Methods employed ranged from immunoassays to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/high-performance liquid chromatography. Analytes in survey samples were correctly identified and quantitated by a large number of participants, but some false positives of concern were reported, as some of them were abused drugs. Some of the false positives would have been avoided by not reporting those drugs solely based upon presumptive analyses. Their presence should have been confirmed, authenticated, and, if possible, quantitated by other analytical methods, which should have been based upon different analytical principles than those used during presumptive analyses. It is anticipated that the FAA's PT program would continue to serve as a tool to effectively allow its own toxicology laboratory and other participating laboratories for professional and technical maintenance and advancement on a voluntary, interlaboratory, and self-evaluative basis. Furthermore, this PT program will continue to provide service to the forensic toxicology scientific community through this important part of the QC/QA for the laboratory accreditation to withstand professional and judicial scrutiny of analytical results.

17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement

Forensic Science, Postmortem Forensic Toxicology, Quality Control/Quality Assurance,Proficiency-Testing, Aircraft Accident Investigation

Document is available to the public through the Defense Technical Information Center, Ft. Belvior, VA 22060; and the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161

19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 15

Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized

���

CONTENTs

IntroductIon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

MaterIals and Methods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

. Mater�als . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

. Survey.Samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

. Survey.Sample.D�str�but�on.and.Result.Summar�es. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

. Stat�st�cal.Calculat�ons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

dIscussIon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

references . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

1

The Second Seven YearS of The faa’S PoSTmorTem forenSic ToxicologY ProficiencY-TeSTing Program

INTrOduCTION

The.Federal.Av�at�on.Adm�n�strat�on’s.(FAA’s).C�v�l.Aerospace.Med�cal.Inst�tute.(CAMI).conducts.tox�colog�-cal.evaluat�on.of.postmortem.b�olog�cal.samples.collected.from.fatally.�njured.p�lots.�nvolved.�n.c�v�l.a�rcraft.ac-c�dents.(1) ..The.subm�tted.samples.are.analyzed.for.the.presence.of.pr�mary.combust�on.gases,.alcohols/volat�les,.and.drugs.(2) ..Throughout.the.ent�re.evaluat�on.process,.a.h�gh.degree.of.qual�ty.control/qual�ty.assurance.(QC/QA).�s.ma�nta�ned,.and.qual�ty.�mprovement.�s.cont�nu-ously.pursued.(3-6) ..The.part�c�pat�on.of.laborator�es.�n.external.profic�ency-test�ng.(PT).programs.�s.cons�dered.an.�ntegral.part.of.QC/QA.of.a.laboratory.and.�ts.ac-cred�tat�on.(4,7,8) ..

In.v�ew.of.the.qual�ty.enhancement,.CAMI.developed,.�mplemented,. and. sponsored. a. PT. program,. effect�ve.July. 1991. (9,10) ..Th�s. PT. program. was. des�gned. for.the. analys�s. of. postmortem. spec�mens,. wh�ch. closely.represented.the.types.and.qual�ty.of.spec�mens.rece�ved.from.a�rcraft.acc�dent.p�lot.fatal�t�es.and.from.death.cases.encountered.�n.med�cal.exam�ner.and.coroner.systems ..Deta�ls. of. th�s. program. have. been. publ�shed. earl�er.(9,10) ..Br�efly,.th�s.quarterly.PT.program.�s.des�gned.to.profess�onally.develop.and.ma�nta�n.techn�cal.currency.on.a.voluntary,.�nterlaboratory,.and.self-evaluat�on.bas�s.and.to.quant�fiably.assess.methods.�n.the.absence.and.presence.of.�nterfer�ng.substances ..F�nd�ngs.of.the.first.7.years.(July.1991–Apr�l.1998).of.the.CAMI.PT.surveys.were.summar�zed.�n.these.2.publ�cat�ons ..In.cont�nuat�on,.CAMI.PT.find�ngs.of.the.next.7-year.(July.1998–Apr�l.2005).surveys.are.descr�bed.here�n ..

MaTErIals aNd METhOds

MaterialsDrug-free.human.ur�ne.was.obta�ned.from.a.commer-

c�al.source;.human.whole.blood.was.suppl�ed.by.a.local.blood.bank ..An�mal.t�ssues.were.purchased.from.local.meat.markets ..Drugs,.metabol�tes,.and.chem�cals/substances.were.obta�ned.from.commerc�al.sources .

survey samplesUr�ne.d�d.not.requ�re.any.�n�t�al.treatment.pr�or.to.

�ts. use. for. the. preparat�on. of. survey. samples,. though.

sod�um.fluor�de.was.added.to.blood.obta�ned.from.the.local.blood.bank.to.ach�eve.a.1%.solut�on ..An�mal.t�ssues.were.we�ghed,.cut.�nto.small.p�eces,.and.homogen�zed.�n.de�on�zed.water ..In.ur�ne,.blood,.and.homogenates,.measured. amounts. of. analytes,. putrefact�ve. bases. (ß-phenethylam�ne,.tryptam�ne,.and/or.tyram�ne),.and/or.other. tox�colog�cally. relevant. substances. were. added,.m�xed,.and.allowed.to.equ�l�brate.for.at.least.24.hours.pr�or. to. the.d�str�but�on.of.PT. survey. samples. to. the.part�c�pat�ng.laborator�es.(Table.I) ..The.final.t�ssue.ho-mogenate.m�xture.conta�ned.1.part.of.t�ssue.to.2.parts.of.water.by.we�ght—that.�s,.3.g.of.homogenate.conta�ned.1.g.of. t�ssue ..W�th.some.survey.samples,.putrefact�on.processes.were.�n�t�ated.by.keep�ng.those.samples.at.amb�-ent.temperature.for.selected.per�ods ..Stock.solut�ons.of.analytes.were.prepared.�n.appropr�ate.solvents ..In.some.samples,.no.analytes.of.�nterest.were.added ..Such.samples.were.cons�dered.as.“Negat�ves .”.

Human.ur�ne.and.blood.were.screened.for.the.pres-ence. of. alcohols/volat�les. and. commonly. encountered.drugs.pr�or.to.the�r.use.�n.the.preparat�on.of.PT.survey.samples ..The.methods.for.the.screen�ng.m�ght.not.rule.out. the.presence.of. those.drugs�f. they.were.present.�n.amounts.below.the.detectable.l�m�ts.of.the.screen�ng.methods ..Other.drugs.that.could.not.be.screened.by.the.employed.methods.m�ght.also.be.present.�n.the.survey.samples ..An�mal.t�ssue.homogenates.were.not.screened.for. the.presence.of.commonly.used.drugs. �n.humans,.but.chem�cal.substances.of.veter�nary.med�cal.pract�ces.m�ght.be.present.�n.such.survey.samples.

survey sample distribution and result summariesUr�ne,.blood,.and.homogenate.survey.samples.were.

sh�pped.�n.su�table.conta�ners. �n.appropr�ate.amounts.w�th.frozen.gel.bags.�n.an.�nsulated.box.by.an.a�r.cour�er.serv�ce.for.next-day.del�very.to.part�c�pat�ng.laborator�es.(9,10) ..The.sample.sh�pment.occurred.�n.the.months.of.January,.Apr�l,.July,.and.October.on.a.yearly.cycle.—that.�s,.4.PT.survey.samples.were.d�str�buted.�n.a.year ..To.the.CAMI.laboratory,.the.PT.survey.samples.were.hand.del�vered.on.the.next.day.of.the.sh�pment.of.samples.to.other.part�c�pants ..

All. part�c�pants. were. requested. to. return. analyt�cal.report.sheets.of.PT.surveys.by.due.dates,.even.�f.the�r.laboratory.d�d.not.rout�nely.analyze.a.part�cular.analyte.�n.a.part�cular.spec�men.type . Unless.all.analyt�cal.report.

2

Tabl

e I.

PT

Sur

vey

Sam

ple

Des

crip

tion

and

Par

ticip

ants

' Ana

lytic

al R

espo

nses

Res

pond

ents

' Ana

lyse

s D

etai

ls

Sur

vey

Sam

ple

No.

Spe

cim

en

Type

sA

naly

tes'

Wei

ghed

-in

Con

cent

ratio

ns

Mea

nC

once

ntra

tions

(SD

ns; i

f n

5)*

% Val

ues

With

in2

SD

ns

Qua

litat

ive

(onl

y)/

Qua

ntita

tive

Par

ticip

ants

/ R

espo

nden

ts

(%

Res

pond

ed)

1B

ovin

e br

ain†

No

subs

tanc

e ad

ded

(neg

ativ

e)

---

---

---

31/2

2 (7

1)

2H

uman

urin

e S

alic

ylic

aci

d (1

00 µ

g/m

L)

Theo

phyl

line

(50

µg/m

L)

---‡

---‡

---

---

3/4

6/4

31/2

4 (7

7)

3 H

uman

blo

od

Atro

pine

(517

ng/

mL)

D

igox

in (2

7 ng

/mL)

E

than

ol (7

0 m

g/dL

)

---‡

---

56 (4

)

---

--- 10

0

8/3

0/0

0/20

31/2

4 (7

7)

4 H

uman

blo

od

Alp

razo

lam

(50

ng/m

L)

-Hyd

roxy

alpr

azol

am (1

0 ng

/mL)

E

than

ol (7

0 m

g/dL

) M

etha

nol (

8 m

g/dL

) M

ethy

lphe

nida

te (1

,170

ng/

mL)

---‡

---

67 (6

) ---

‡ 738

(147

; n =

6)

---

--- 10

0---

100

5/4

2/0

0/22 1/

46/

12

31/2

5 (8

1)

5 B

ovin

e br

ain†

No

subs

tanc

e ad

ded

(neg

ativ

e)

---

---

---

31/2

3 (7

4)

6 P

orci

ne li

ver†

E

than

ol (8

1 m

g/hg

) M

etha

nol (

27 m

g/hg

)ß-

Phe

neth

ylam

ine

(11

µg/g

) 11

-Hyd

roxy

-9 -te

tra-

hy

droc

anna

bino

l (51

ng/

g)

11-n

or-

9 -Tet

rahy

droc

anna

bino

l-

9-ca

rbox

ylic

aci

d (5

01 n

g/g)

9 -Tet

rahy

droc

anna

bino

l

(300

ng/

g)

81 (2

0)

42---

---

---‡

---

100

---

---

---

---

---

1/7

0/1

---

0/0

0/2

1/0

34/1

8 (5

3)

7 H

uman

urin

e B

upro

pion

(2 µ

g/m

L)B

upro

pion

met

abol

ite (3

µg/

mL)

Par

oxet

ine

(2 µ

g/m

L)

---‡

4---

‡

---

---

---

13/3 6/1

8/3

33/2

6 (7

9)

8 H

uman

urin

e N

o su

bsta

nce

adde

d (n

egat

ive)

---

---

---

33

/29

(88)

3

9 H

uman

blo

od

No

subs

tanc

e ad

ded

(neg

ativ

e)

---

---

---

33/2

7 (8

2)

10

Hum

an b

lood

B

enzo

ylec

goni

ne (9

8 ng

/mL)

C

ocai

ne (2

03 n

g/m

L)

Met

hano

l (13

mg/

dL)

Phe

ncyc

lidin

e (9

7 ng

/mL)

9 -T

etra

hydr

ocan

nabi

nol

(5

0 ng

/mL)

116

(16)

18

3 (4

9)

12 (1

; n =

5)

86 (1

5; n

= 1

4)

44; 5

0

100

100

100

100

---

3/11

10/1

51/

69/

16 0/2

33/2

9 (8

8)

11

Hum

an u

rine

Eth

anol

(16

mg/

dL)

Oxa

zepa

m (2

12 n

g/m

L)

14 (3

) 24

7 (6

0; n

= 5

) 10

010

00/

87/

733

/26

(79)

12

Hum

an b

lood

A

ceta

min

ophe

n (1

6 µg

/mL)

E

than

ol (9

3 m

g/dL

) Fl

uoxe

tine

(111

ng/

mL)

N

orflu

oxet

ine

(144

ng/

mL)

15 (3

) 76

(6)

101

(21;

n =

6)

---‡

100 94 100

---

1/6

0/18 6/

73/

4

34/2

5 (7

4)

13

Por

cine

live

r†ß-

Phe

neth

ylam

ine

(15

µg/g

) Tr

ypta

min

e (1

5 µg

/g)

---

---

---

34/2

3 (6

8)

14

Hum

an u

rine

Cim

etid

ine

(150

µg/

mL)

Des

met

hyls

ertra

line

(25

µg/m

L)S

ertra

line

(20

µg/m

L)

38---

‡

---‡

---

---

---

4/1

13/5

19/6

34/2

6 (7

6)

15

Hum

an u

rine

Dip

henh

ydra

min

e (2

g/

mL)

Oxy

codo

ne (1

2 g/

mL)

---‡

12 (3

; n =

6)

--- 10

014

/517

/733

/29

(88)

16

Bov

ine

liver

†N

o su

bsta

nce

adde

d (n

egat

ive)

---

---

---

29

/23

(79)

17

Hum

an b

lood

d-

Am

phet

amin

e (1

0 ng

/mL)

l-Met

ham

phet

amin

e (1

77 n

g/m

L)ß-

Phe

neth

ylam

ine

(10

µg/m

L)

10; 1

0; 1

0 16

7 (1

5)

---

--- 90

---

2/3

1/10

---

29/2

5 (8

6)

18

Hum

an u

rine

Ate

nolo

l (10

0 ng

/mL)

Met

hano

l (8

mg/

dL)

---

---

---

---

0/0

0/0

28/2

5 (8

9)

19

Bov

ine

liver

†,§

Hyd

roco

done

(3 µ

g/g)

Mor

phin

e (1

65 n

g/g)

---

‡

---‡

---

---

4/8

2/8

28/2

2 (7

9)

20

Hum

an u

rine

Chl

oroq

uine

(19

µg/m

L)

Qui

nidi

ne (6

0 µg

/mL)

21

(4; n

= 5

) 57

(4; n

= 5

) 10

010

015

/611

/628

/27

(96)

4

21

Hum

an u

rine

Eth

anol

(103

mg/

dL)

Met

hano

l (30

mg/

dL)

102

(5; n

= 1

4)

30 (1

)93 10

00/

15 3/7

29/2

5 (8

6)

22

Hum

an b

lood

D

esip

ram

ine

(345

ng/

mL)

Im

ipra

min

e (4

30 n

g/m

L)

ß-P

hene

thyl

amin

e (1

2 µg

/mL)

Tr

ypta

min

e (6

µg/

mL)

Ty

ram

ine

(6 µ

g/m

L)

278

(66;

n =

12)

40

0 (7

5)

---

---

---

100 93

---

---

---

9/13

8/14

---

---

---

29/2

6 (9

0)

23

Hum

an u

rine

Ace

tone

(25

mg/

dL)

Eth

anol

(77

mg/

dL)

Isop

ropa

nol (

74 m

g/dL

) M

etha

nol (

52 m

g/dL

)

23 (3

) 72

(5)

71 (3

) 48

(5)

93 89 93 93

2/15

0/19

2/15

2/14

28/2

5 (8

9)

24

Hum

an u

rine

No

subs

tanc

e ad

ded

(neg

ativ

e)

---

---

---

28/2

6 (9

3)

25

Hum

an b

lood

C

arba

maz

epin

e (1

0 g/

mL)

E

than

ol (7

9 m

g/dL

) P

heno

barb

ital (

8 µg

/mL)

9 (2

) 74

(5)

8 (2

; n =

11)

91 95 91

8/11

0/22

9/12

28/2

3 (8

2)

26

Bov

ine

liver

†,((

No

subs

tanc

e ad

ded

(neg

ativ

e)

---

---

---

28/2

4 (8

6)

27

Hum

an b

lood

((

Ace

tam

inop

hen

(10

µg/m

L)

Eth

anol

(158

mg/

dl)

Ibup

rofe

n (2

2 µg

/mL)

10 (2

; n =

9)

148

(9)

12 (2

)

100 95 100

2/10

0/21 5/

5

28/2

4 (8

6)

28

Hum

an u

rine

No

subs

tanc

e ad

ded

(neg

ativ

e)

---

---

---

28/2

7 (9

6)

* Con

cent

ratio

n un

its a

re th

e sa

me,

as

are

liste

d in

the

corre

spon

ding

row

s of

the

tabl

e's

prec

edin

g co

lum

n (N

o. 3

). N

o st

atis

tical

ana

lyse

s w

ere

perfo

rmed

in th

ose

anal

yte

anal

ysis

val

ues

whe

n th

ere

wer

e la

rge

varia

tions

in q

uant

itativ

e va

lues

and

/or l

imite

d qu

antit

ativ

e va

lues

of 4

or l

ess.

Ass

ocia

ted

deta

ils a

re g

iven

in th

e M

ater

ials

and

Met

hods

sec

tion.

† H

omog

enat

es o

f sol

id ti

ssue

type

s w

ere

prep

ared

in d

eion

ized

wat

er in

the

prop

ortio

n of

1 p

art t

issu

e to

2 p

arts

dei

oniz

ed w

ater

by

wei

ght—

that

is, 3

g o

f hom

ogen

ate

cont

aine

d 1

g of

tiss

ue. T

he q

uant

itativ

e va

lues

are

exp

ress

ed a

s th

e co

ncen

tratio

ns in

the

tissu

es ra

ther

than

in th

e ho

mog

enat

es.

‡ Ther

e w

ere

larg

e va

riatio

ns in

qua

ntita

tive

valu

es. N

o m

eani

ngfu

l sta

tistic

al a

naly

sis

coul

d be

fina

lized

in s

pite

of t

he o

ne-b

y-on

e el

imin

atio

n of

the

num

eric

al v

alue

s an

d th

e de

term

inat

ions

of m

eans

and

SD

ns w

ith th

e S

Dn v

alue

2

5% o

f the

resp

ectiv

e m

ean

and

with

the

"n" v

alue

5

. The

refo

re, n

o qu

antit

ativ

e va

lues

are

men

tione

d he

rein

in th

e in

tere

st o

f spa

ce in

the

tabl

e. R

elat

ed d

etai

ls a

re g

iven

in th

e M

ater

ials

and

Met

hods

sec

tion.

§ Th

e re

sult

sum

mar

y re

port

of th

is s

urve

y sa

mpl

e w

as a

men

ded

due

to a

mis

calc

ulat

ion

of th

e am

ount

of m

orph

ine

sulfa

te a

dded

as

free

base

in th

e pr

epar

atio

n.

Initi

ally

, it w

as c

alcu

late

d as

1 m

olec

ule

of m

orph

ine

per m

orph

ine

sulfa

te, r

athe

r tha

n 2

mol

ecul

es o

f mor

phin

e.(( Th

e sp

ecim

ens

wer

e pu

trefie

d by

kee

ping

them

at r

oom

tem

pera

ture

for 2

day

s pr

ior t

o th

eir d

istri

butio

n to

par

ticip

ants

.

5

sheets. were. returned,. �t. could. not. be. ver�fied. that. all.part�c�pat�ng. laborator�es. rece�ved.and. responded. to. a.part�cular.PT.sample ..In.add�t�on.to.report�ng.qual�tat�ve.and.quant�tat�ve.results,.those.analyt�cal.report.respon-dents.had.an.opt�on.to.defer.a.survey.sample.analys�s.by.choos�ng.an.appropr�ate.box.on.the.report.sheet—that.�s,.“do.not.perform.analys�s.on.th�s.spec�men.type”.or.“choose.not.to.perform.analys�s.due.to.other.reasons .”.Such. deferments. w�th�n. the. report. respondents. were.cons�dered.as.analys�s.deferments ..W�th�n.a.4-week.per�od.after.the.last.date.of.the.report.subm�ss�on,.a.summary.of.the.results.of.PT.surveys.were.prepared.and.sent.to.the.part�c�pat�ng.laborator�es.(9,10) .

statistical CalculationsThe. mean. and. standard. dev�at�on. of. quant�tat�ve.

analyt�cal.values.for.each.analyte.were.calculated.by.us�ng.Texas.Instruments.TI-60.Advanced.Sc�ent�fic.Calculator.(Texas.Instruments.Profess�onal.TI-60.Gu�de.Book.1986,.Lubbock,.TX).or.by.us�ng.M�crosoft®.Office.Excel.2003.(Redmond,.WA) ..The.standard.dev�at�on.calculat�on.was.based.upon.the.ent�re.populat�on.g�ven.as.argument—that.�s,.data.taken.from.every.member.of.a.populat�on—and.�s.abbrev�ated.here�n.as.SD

n,.where.“n”.�s.the.number.of.

the.analyt�cal.values.for.a.part�cular.analyte ..For.the.purpose.of.the.PT.survey.result.summar�zat�on,.

where�n.5.or.more.quant�tat�ve.values.were.rece�ved.from.the.part�c�pants. for.an.analyte,. the.mean.of.analyt�cal.values.and.SD

n.were.calculated ..If.the.SD

n.was.found.

to.be.>.25%.of.the.mean,.an.“out-of-range”.value.was.�dent�fied.for.the.purpose.of.the.result.summar�zat�on ..An.“out-of-range”.value.was.defined.as.the.one.wh�ch.had.the.largest.absolute.d�fference.from.the.mean.value ..Th�s.“out-of-range”.numer�cal.value.was.�dent�fied.and.removed. from. the. tabulated. values .. Subsequently,. the.new.mean.and.SD

n.w�th.the.new.“n”.numbers—that.�s,.

“n.–.1”.numbers—were.calculated ..If.the.new.SDn.was.

<.25%.of.the.mean,.then.the.mean.and.SDn.values.were.

�ncluded.�n.the.table;.otherw�se,.a.new.mean.and.SDn.were.

calculated.after.remov�ng.another.“out-of-range”.value.w�th.the.largest.absolute.d�fference.from.the.new.mean ..Th�s.process.of.one-by-one.el�m�nat�ons.of.values.and.calculat�ons.of.means.was.cont�nued.unt�l.an.SD

n.value.

of.<.25%.of.the.mean.was.obta�ned ..On.few.occas�ons,.�n.sp�te.of.the.el�m�nat�on.of.values,.�t.was.not.poss�ble.to.obta�n.an.SD

n.value.that.was.<.25%.of.the.mean ..If.only.

4.or.less.quant�tat�ve.analyt�cal.values.were.left.after.the.one-by-one.el�m�nat�on.process.or.�f.only.4.or.less.quan-t�tat�ve.values.were.obta�ned.from.the.analyt�cal.reports.of.the.part�c�pants,.then.no.mean.and.SD

n.were.deter-

m�ned ..In.summary,.no.stat�st�cal.analyses.were.reported.�n.those.s�tuat�ons.where�n.there.were.large.var�at�ons.�n.quant�tat�ve.values.and/or.l�m�ted.quant�tat�ve.values.(≤

4) ..The.quant�tat�ve.values.w�th.large.var�at�ons.are.not.�ncluded.�n.the.table.�n.the.�nterest.of.space ..

The.report.respondents.and.analys�s.deferments.for.var�ous. sample. types.were.analyzed.at.α.=.0 .05.us�ng.analys�s.of.var�ance.and.Duncan's.mult�ple-range.test.for.stat�st�cal.pa�r-w�se.d�fferences.between.the.groups.(F�g ..1) ..The.stat�st�cal.software.package.used.for.the.analys�s.of.var�ance.and.the.mult�ple-range.test.was.SAS,.vers�on.9 .1.(SAS.Inst�tute,.Inc .,.Cary,.NC) ..The.report.respondents.were.those.part�c�pants.who.returned.the.analyt�cal.report.sheets,.and.the.analys�s.deferments.were.those.part�c�pants.who.also.deferred.the.analys�s.by.mark�ng.an.appropr�ate.box.on.the.analyt�cal.report.sheet .

rEsulTs

Throughout.the.second.7.years.of.the.CAMI.PT.survey,.a.total.of.28.samples.were.subm�tted.to.28–34.(mean.=.31;.SD

n.=.2).part�c�pat�ng.laborator�es ..However,.not.all.

of.the.part�c�pants.returned.the.analyt�cal.report.sheets.of.a.part�cular.survey ..Only.18–29.(mean.=.25;.SD

n.=.

2).part�c�pants.returned.the�r.results—that.�s,.53–96%.(mean.=.82;.SD

n.=.9).of.the.total.part�c�pants ..The.PT.

survey.cons�sted.of.12.ur�ne,.9.blood,.and.7.t�ssue.(2.bra�n.and.5.l�ver).homogenate.spec�mens ..No.drugs.were.added.to.9.of.the.28.survey.samples,.wh�le.2.analytes.were.added.to.9.samples,.3.to.5,.4.to.2,.and.5.to.3.samples.(Table.I) ..The. analytes. added. to. the. survey. samples. covered.the.whole.spectrum.of.volat�les.and.drugs ..The.former.analyte.category.conta�ned.acetone,.ethanol,.�sopropanol,.and.methanol ..The.latter.cons�sted.of.ac�d�c,.neutral,.and.bas�c.drugs,.cover�ng.prescr�pt�on.and.nonprescr�pt�on.drugs.and.controlled.substances.of.Schedules.I–V.(11) ..Analytes.were.added.�n.subtherapeut�c-to-therapeut�c.or.subtox�c-to-tox�c.concentrat�ons.reported.�n.the.l�terature.(12-18) .. PT. survey. deta�ls,. cover�ng. mean. concentra-t�ons.w�th.SD

ns.and.percentage.of.values.fall�ng.w�th�n.

2.SDn.values,.are.g�ven.�n.Table.I ..As.an.average,.97%.

(89–100%;.SDn.=.4).of.the.analyt�cal.values.fell.w�th�n.

2.SDns;.78%.of.the.means.of.the.analyte.quant�tat�ve.

values.were.w�th�n.20%.of.the�r.we�ghed-�n.amounts.�n.the. survey. samples ..There.were. some.obv�ous.cler�cal,.transcr�pt�on,.or.typograph�cal.errors.�n.reported.un�ts.and/or.dec�mal.places ..Such.numer�cal.values.were.not.�ncluded.�n.the.stat�st�cal.calculat�ons ..Examples.of.these.types.of.errors.were:.0 .08.mg/L.of.methylphen�date.�nstead.of.0 .8.mg/L;.0 .10%.of.methanol.�n.place.of.0 .010%;.0 .209.g/dL.of.ethanol.�nstead.of.0 .104.g/dL;.and11 .6.mg/dL.of.acetam�nophen.�n.place.of.11 .6.µg/mL ..

The.number.of.analyt�cal.report.respondents.of.a.survey.was.dependent.upon.the.complex�ty.of.the.sample.matr�x.character�st�cs.(blood,.ur�ne,.or.homogenate;.putrefied.or.non-putrefied),.number.and.types.of.analytes.(alcohols,.

6

11-hydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannab�nol,. op�ates,. and/or.benzod�azep�nes),. and. assoc�ated. analyt�cal. chem�stry/tox�cology ..Volat�les.�n.ur�ne.were.correctly.quant�tated.by.the.major�ty.of.part�c�pants,.whereas.amphetam�ne/methamphetam�ne.and.cannab�no�d.levels.�n.blood.and.t�ssues.were.reported.by.a.cons�derably.lower.number.of.part�c�pants ..Methods.employed.ranged.from.�mmuno-assays. to. gas. chromatography-mass. spectrometry/h�gh.performance.l�qu�d.chromatography ..The.analyt�cal.report.sheets.of.blood.and.ur�ne.survey.samples.were.returned.by.83%.(SD

n.=.5;.n.=.9).and.86%.(SD

n.=.6;.n.=.12).of.the.

part�c�pants,.respect�vely.(F�g ..1),.whereas,.such.response.was.73%.(SD

n.=.7;.n.=.7).w�th.homogenates ..The.response.

w�th.homogenates.�n.compar�son.to.that.w�th.ur�ne.or.blood.was.stat�st�cally.s�gn�ficant.(α.=.0 .05) ..W�th�n.the.analyt�cal.report.respondents,.the.deferment.of.analys�s.was.s�gn�ficantly.h�gh.(23%;.SD

n.=.7;.α.=.0 .05).w�th.

homogenates.�n.compar�son.to.that.w�th.blood.(1%;.SDn.

=.1).or.ur�ne.(4%;.SDn.=.4) ..Two.such.examples.are:.(�).

the.report.was.returned.by.only.53%.of.the.part�c�pants.of.wh�ch.28%.deferred.the.analys�s.for.a.porc�ne.l�ver.homogenate.sp�ked.w�th.alcohols,.cannab�no�ds,.and.a.putrefact�ve.am�ne.and.(��).the.report.was.returned.by.86%.of.the.part�c�pants,.but.33%.of.those.deferred.the.analys�s.of.a.negat�ve.bov�ne.l�ver.homogenate .

False.pos�t�ves.of.concern.were.reported.�n.8.out.of.the.28.surveys.(Table.II) ..The.number.of.laboratory-reported.pos�t�ves.was.1.for.each.of.the.7.surveys,.but.2.laborator�es.reported.amphetam�nes.or.amphetam�ne.class.�n.1.survey ..F�ve.of.the.7.pos�t�ve.analytes.were.benzoylecgon�ne,.flun�-trazepam,.phenylpropanolam�ne,.lyserg�c.ac�d.d�ethylam-�de,.and.qu�n�ne ..The.respect�ve.spec�men.types.(�ntended.analytes).were.bov�ne.bra�n.homogenate.(negat�ve),.hu-man.blood.(alprazolam,.α-hydroxyalprazolam,.ethanol,.methanol,.and.methylphen�date),.porc�ne.l�ver.homogenate.(ethanol,.methanol,.11-hydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannab�nol,.11-nor-Δ9-tetrahydrocannab�nol-9-carboxyl�c. ac�d,. and.Δ9-tetrahydrocannab�nol),. and. human. ur�ne. (2. ur�ne.surveys:. one. conta�ned. c�met�d�ne,. desmethylsertral�ne,.and. sertral�ne,. wh�le. the. other. chloroqu�ne. and. qu�n�-d�ne) ..The.3.rema�n�ng.survey.samples.were.reported.to.qual�tat�vely.conta�n.amphetam�ne,.methamphetam�ne,.or.amphetam�ne/amphetam�ne.class.drugs ..Two.of.these.3.samples—porc�ne.l�ver.homogenate.and.human.blood—were.sp�ked.w�th.ß-phenethylam�ne,.tryptam�ne,.and/or.tyram�ne ..The.last.survey.sample.was.not.sp�ked.w�th.any.putrefact�ve.am�ne,.but.1.laboratory.reported.the.presence.of.methamphetam�ne.by.us�ng.a.gas.chromatography-mass.spectrometry. method ..The. survey. sample. porc�ne. l�ver.homogenate,.�n.wh�ch.phenylpropanolam�ne.was.reported,.was.also.sp�ked.w�th.ß-phenethylam�ne .

73† ± 10

86* ± 683* ± 5

23‡ ± 7

4§ ± 41§ ± 1

0

20

40

60

80

100

Blood Urine Homogenates

Perc

ent

Report Respondents Analysis Deferments

Figure 1. Analytical report respondents and analysis deferments (within the report respondents) for PT survey sample types. Histograms represent percent means of the respondents or deferments for blood (n = 9), urine (n = 12), and tissue homogenates (n = 7); numbers after “±” are corresponding SDns. The analysis of variance of the 6 groups indicated a significant difference in the means at p < 0.0001. Bars marked with the same symbol indicate that those values are not significantly different from each other, but the values designated by the different symbol are different at α = 0.05.

7

Tabl

e II.

Sur

vey

Sam

ple

Type

s/A

naly

tes

and

Fals

e P

ositi

ves

of C

once

rn R

epor

ted

by L

abor

ator

ies

Sur

vey

Sam

ple

No.

*

Spe

cim

en

Type

sA

naly

tes'

Wei

ghed

-in

Con

cent

ratio

ns

Fals

e Po

sitiv

es o

f C

once

rn (N

o. o

f La

bora

torie

s)

Met

hod/

Tech

niqu

es

Use

dQ

ualit

ativ

e or

Qua

ntita

tive

Ana

lysi

s

1B

ovin

e br

ain†

No

subs

tanc

e ad

ded

(neg

ativ

e)

Ben

zoyl

ecgo

nine

(1)

Fluo

resc

ence

pola

rizat

ion

imm

unoa

ssay

2.4

µg/g

4 H

uman

blo

od

Alp

razo

lam

(50

ng/m

L)

-Hyd

roxy

alpr

azol

am (1

0 ng

/mL)

E

than

ol (7

0 m

g/dL

) M

etha

nol (

8 m

g/dL

) M

ethy

lphe

nida

te (1

,170

ng/

mL)

Flun

itraz

epam

(1)

Enz

yme-

linke

d

imm

uno-

sorb

ent

as

say

Qua

litat

ive

6 P

orci

ne li

ver†

E

than

ol (8

1 m

g/hg

) M

etha

nol (

27 m

g/hg

)ß-

Phe

neth

ylam

ine

(11

µg/g

) 11

-Hyd

roxy

-9 -te

tra-

hy

droc

anna

bino

l (51

ng/

g)

11-n

or-

9 -Tet

rahy

droc

anna

bino

l-

9-ca

rbox

ylic

aci

d (5

01 n

g/g)

9 -Tet

rahy

droc

anna

bino

l

(300

ng/

g)

Phe

nylp

ropa

nola

min

e

(1)

Enz

yme

im

mun

oass

ay; g

as

ch

rom

atog

raph

y-

m

ass

spec

trom

etry

Qua

litat

ive

13

Por

cine

live

r†ß-

Phe

neth

ylam

ine

(15

µg/g

) Tr

ypta

min

e (1

5 µg

/g)

Am

phet

amin

e/

met

ham

phet

amin

e (1

) Fl

uore

scen

ce

po

lariz

atio

n

imm

unoa

ssay

Qua

litat

ive

14

Hum

an u

rine

Cim

etid

ine

(150

µg/

mL)

Des

met

hyls

ertra

line

(25

µg/m

L)S

ertra

line

(20

µg/m

L)

Lyse

rgic

aci

d di

ethy

lam

ide

(1)

Enz

yme

im

mun

oass

ay

Qua

litat

ive

8

20

Hum

an u

rine

Chl

oroq

uine

(19

µg/m

L)

Qui

nidi

ne (6

0 µg

/mL)

Q

uini

ne (1

) G

as c

hrom

atog

raph

y-

m

ass

spec

trom

etry

;

high

-per

form

ance

liqui

d

chro

mat

ogra

phy;

thin

laye

r

chro

mat

ogra

phy

5 ng

/mL

21

Hum

an u

rine

Eth

anol

(103

mg/

dL)

Met

hano

l (30

mg/

dL)

Met

ham

phet

amin

e (1

) G

as c

hrom

atog

raph

y-

m

ass

spec

trom

etry

Q

ualit

ativ

e

22

Hum

an b

lood

D

esip

ram

ine

(345

ng/

mL)

Im

ipra

min

e (4

30 n

g/m

L)

ß-P

hene

thyl

amin

e (1

2 µg

/mL)

Tr

ypta

min

e (6

µg/

mL)

Ty

ram

ine

(6 µ

g/m

L)

Am

phet

amin

es (1

)

Am

phet

amin

e cl

ass

(1)

Enz

yme

imm

unoa

ssay

E

nzym

e

im

mun

oass

ay

500

ng/m

L

Qua

litat

ive

* Num

bers

in th

is c

olum

n re

fer t

o th

ose

in T

able

I, a

long

with

the

resp

ectiv

e sa

mpl

e ty

pes

and

wei

ghed

-in c

once

ntra

tions

of a

naly

tes.

Ana

lyse

s de

tails

and

nu

mbe

rs o

f par

ticip

ants

/resp

onde

nts

are

give

n in

Tab

le I.

† H

omog

enat

es o

f sol

id ti

ssue

type

s w

ere

prep

ared

in d

eion

ized

wat

er in

the

prop

ortio

n of

1 p

art t

issu

e to

2 p

arts

dei

oniz

ed w

ater

by

wei

ght—

that

is, 3

g o

f ho

mog

enat

e co

ntai

ned

1 g

of ti

ssue

. The

qua

ntita

tive

valu

es a

re e

xpre

ssed

as

the

conc

entra

tions

in th

e tis

sues

rath

er th

an in

the

hom

ogen

ates

.

9

dIsCussION

S�nce.1991,.the.FAA’s.PT.program.has.been.serv�ng.as.an.�nstrument.for.the.FAA’s.own.tox�cology.labora-tory.and.other.part�c�pat�ng.laborator�es.to.evaluate.the�r.profic�ency. for. forens�c. tox�cology. analys�s .. Hav�ng. a.broad.nat�onal.geograph�c.coverage,. these.part�c�pants.represent.a.w�de.spectrum.of.the.nat�on’s.postmortem.tox�cology.laboratory.system.and.currently.do.not.pay.to.part�c�pate.�n.the.PT.program ..Although.th�s.program.does.not.fulfill.any.regulatory.requ�rements,.�t.has.been.effect�vely.used.by.tox�cology.laborator�es.for.the�r.pro-fess�onal.and.techn�cal.ma�ntenance.and.advancement.on.a.voluntary,.�nterlaboratory,.and.self-evaluat�ve.bas�s.(9,10) ..The.program.has.been.serv�ng.as.a.tool.for.the.assessment. of. analyt�cal. methods. �n. the. presence. and.absence. of. postmortem. �nterfer�ng. substances. and. a.means. for. the. part�c�pat�ng. laborator�es. to. mutually.share.sc�ent�fic.and.techn�cal.�nformat�on.that.reflects.the.profic�ency.�n.postmortem.tox�colog�cal.pract�ces ..Th�s.PT.survey.has.been.a.valuable.program.that.(�).enta�ls.the.analys�s.of.postmortem.samples.of.complex.matr�xes,.such.as.putrefied.blood.and.other.t�ssues,.thus.requ�r�ng.spec�al�zed. analyt�cal. approaches. and. (��). successfully.fulfills. the. requ�rement.of. the.QC/QA.component.of.the.accred�tat�on.of.laborator�es.(7-10) ..

As.was.observed.dur�ng.the.first.7.years.(9,10),.not.all. part�c�pants. returned. the�r. analyt�cal. report. sheets,.and.because.anonym�ty.of.the.part�c�pants.and.of.the�r.results.�s.str�ctly.ma�nta�ned,.�t.was.not.poss�ble.to.find.out.wh�ch.laborator�es.d�d.not.return.the�r.report.sheets ..The.number.of.qual�tat�ve. and.quant�tat�ve. analyt�cal.result. responses. was. dependent. upon. the. complex�ty,.cond�t�on,. and. character�st�cs. of. the. sample. matr�xes,.number.and.types.of.analytes.present.�n.the.samples,.and.assoc�ated.complex�ty.of.analyt�cal.chem�stry/tox�cology,.�nclud�ng. the. stab�l�ty. of. the. analytes. �n. a. part�cular.b�olog�cal.matr�x.and.the�r.common.usage.and.related.med�colegal.�mpl�cat�ons ..

Quant�tat�ve.values.were.�n.remarkably.good.agree-ment.w�th.the.respect�ve.target.concentrat�ons ..In.the.major�ty.of.the.cases,.the.quant�tat�ve.values.were.w�th�n.2.SD

n.of.the.means.of.the.reported.values,.exclud�ng.any.

“unacceptable”.values,.such.as.values.w�th.dec�mal.errors.or.wrong.un�ts/amounts,.and/or.not.w�th�n.20%.of.the.we�ghed-�n.amounts.of.the.analytes ..One.aspect.of.the.quant�tat�on.of.bas�c.drugs.�s.worth.emphas�z�ng—that.�s,.the.nature.of.the�r.salts.used.for.the.preparat�on.of.the�r.controls,.cal�brator.solut�ons,.and.assoc�ated.cal�brat�on.curves ..Monobas�c,.d�bas�c,.or.tr�bas�c.nature.of.the.drug.salt.should.be.taken.�nto.account.when.calculat�ng.the.amount.of.the.bas�c.drug.present.�n.the.sample.by.us�ng.

the.correct.molecular.we�ght.of.the.drug.salt.and,.thus,.by.know�ng.the.number.of.drug.molecules.that.would.d�ssoc�ate.from.each.molecule.of.the.drug.salt ..An.ex-ample.�s.an.�nadvertent.m�scalculat�on.of.the.amount.of.morph�ne.sulfate.used.for.morph�ne.�n.a.survey.sample,.where�n.the.�n�t�al.calculat�on.was.as.1.molecule,.rather.than.2.molecules,.of.morph�ne.per.1.molecule.of.morph�ne.sulfate ..Because.of.th�s.calculat�ng.error,.the.summary.of.results.was.amended.and.the.summary.was.re�ssued ..

Although.survey.sample.matr�xes.were.screened.for.the.presence.of.commonly.used.drugs.or.they.were.of.an�mal.or�g�n,.the.occas�onal.presence.of.some.analytes.that.were.not.added.�n.a.part�cular.sample.should.not.be.construed.as. false.pos�t�ves ..However,. the�r.presence.could.be.of.concern,.part�cularly.�f.they.were.controlled.substances ..Those. analytes. m�ght. have. been. genu�nely. present. �n.the.matr�x.used.for.the.preparat�on.of.a.PT.challenge ..As.�s.true.w�th.any.screen�ng.method,.the.method.used.for.the.screen�ng.m�ght.not.necessar�ly.be.�n.a.pos�t�on.to.determ�ne.the.presence.of.all.poss�ble.drugs,.�f.they.were.present.�n.amounts.below.the.detectable.l�m�ts.of.the.screen�ng.assays ..Veter�nary.drugs.m�ght.be.present.�n.the.an�mal.t�ssue.homogenate.samples,.and.macro-molecules. of. an�mal. or�g�n. �n. the. t�ssue.homogenates.m�ght.�nterfere.w�th.ant�body-based.screen�ng.methods,.thereby.lead�ng.to.false.pos�t�ves.or.negat�ves ..However,.�t.�s.be�ng.suggested.that.such.pos�t�ve.find�ngs.should.be.supported.by.the.analyt�cal.results.obta�ned.follow-�ng.the.laboratory’s.standard.operat�ng.procedures ..The.genu�ne.presence.of.those.analytes.could.also.be.deduced.by.the.analyt�cal.results.of.other.part�c�pants.tabulated.�n.the.analyt�cal.summary.reports ..If.several.part�c�pants.reported. the.part�cular. analyte(s),. then. that. analyte(s).could.be.concluded.as.true.pos�t�ve(s),.otherw�se.v�ewed.as.an.�solated.�nc�dence.(9,10) ..

The.report�ng.of.caffe�ne,.theobrom�ne,.theophyll�ne,.and.n�cot�ne.should.not.be.cons�dered.as.false.pos�t�ves ..The�r. presence. was. l�kely. due. to. the. consumpt�on. of.caffe�nated.beverage,. act�ve/pass�ve. �nhalat�on.of. c�ga-rette.smoke,.or.chew�ng.of.tobacco.by.the.donors.of.the.b�olog�cal.matr�xes ..These.analytes.were.not.added.�n.the.survey.samples.and.may.not.necessar�ly.be.cons�dered.as.drugs.of.use ..The.presence.of.ethanol.or.other.alcohols/volat�les.�n.samples.not.fort�fied.by.these.analytes.m�ght.have.been.assoc�ated.w�th.the�r.product�on.by.m�croor-gan�sms ..Such.product�on.would.be.more.prevalent.�f.the.samples.d�d.not.have.preservat�ves.and.were.exposed.to.uncontrolled.temperature.cond�t�ons.for.var�ous.lengths.of.t�me ..Report�ng.of.ß-phenethylam�ne,.tryptam�ne,.and/or.tyram�ne.could.not.be.of.s�gn�ficance.as.these.analytes.are.endogenous.am�nes.or.putrefact�ve.bases ..

10

The.major�ty.of.false.pos�t�ves.of.concern.were.reported.based.upon.presumpt�ve.analyses.(screen�ng.assays) ..Al-though.the.presence.of.phenylpropanolam�ne,.metham-phetam�ne,.and.qu�n�ne.were.generally.demonstrated.by.�mmunoassays.and.gas.chromatography-mass.spectrom-etry.methods,.other.false.pos�t�ves.were.found.by.only.�mmunoassays ..The.report�ng.of.phenylpropanolam�ne.and.amphetam�ne/methamphetam�ne.m�ght.have.been.attr�buted.to.the.presence.of.β-phenethylam�ne,.a.putre-fact�ve.�nterfer�ng.am�ne.w�th.these.groups.of.structurally.s�m�lar.drugs.(19-21) ..Such.drugs.should.not.have.been.reported.solely.based.upon.presumpt�ve.analyses ..The�r.presence.should.have.been.confirmed,.authent�cated,.and,.�f.poss�ble,.quant�tated.by.another.analyt�cal.method.that.�s.based.upon.a.d�fferent.analyt�cal.pr�nc�ple.than.that.used.dur�ng.the.presumpt�ve.analys�s .

W�th.the.analyt�cal.results,.part�c�pants.also.prov�ded.the.methods.used.for.the.analys�s.from.a.l�st.of.poss�ble.methods ..Th�s. �nformat�on. was. for. the. ut�l�zat�on. by.other.laborator�es.to.understand.the.analyt�cal.approaches.taken ..To.further.�mprove.the.PT.program.and.assoc�ated.analyt�cal.processes,.the.part�c�pants.are.now.requested.to.choose.from.a.l�st.of.types.of.extract�on.procedures.they.used.dur�ng.a.survey.sample.analys�s ..Such.�nformat�on.w�ll.be.�ncorporated.�n.the.th�rd.segment.of.the.FAA's.PT. program. summar�zat�on,. w�th. a. v�ew. that. �t. w�ll.further.sharpen.the.analyt�cal.effic�ency.of.the.part�c�-pat�ng.laborator�es ..It.�s.ant�c�pated.that.the.FAA's.PT.program.w�ll.cont�nue.to.prov�de.serv�ce.to.the.forens�c.tox�cology.sc�ent�fic.commun�ty.through.th�s.�mportant.part.of.the.QC/QA.�n.the.laboratory.accred�tat�on.pro-cess. to.w�thstand.profess�onal. and. jud�c�al. scrut�ny.of.analyt�cal.results .

rEfErENCEs

1 .. Av�at�on.Safety.Research.Act.of.1988:.Publ�c.Law.100-591.[H .R ..4686] ..100th.U .S ..Cong .,.2nd.Sess .,.102.Stat ..3011.(03.November.1988.) .

2 .. Chaturved�.AK,.Sm�th.DR,.Soper. JW,.Canf�eld.DV,.Wh�nnery.JE ..Character�st�cs.and.tox�colog�-cal.process�ng.of.postmortem.p�lot.spec�mens.from.fatal.c�v�l.av�at�on.acc�dents ..Av�at.Space.Env�ron.Med.2003;74(3):252–9 .

3 .. Chaturved�.AK,.Soper.JW,.Canf�eld.DV,.Wh�n-nery. JE .. Appl�cat�on. of. laboratory. �nformat�on.management.solut�on.software.system.support�ng.forens�c. tox�cology. operat�ons. [abstract] .. Amer�-can. Academy. of. Forens�c. Sc�ences. Proceed�ngs.2006;12:340–1 .

4 .. Chaturved�. AK,. Soper. JW,. Cardona. PS,. Can-f�eld. DV .. Exempl�f�cat�on. of. cont�nuous. qual�ty.�mprovement. by. qual�ty. surve�llance:. laboratory.�nc�dents. and. correct�ve/prevent�ve. approaches.[abstract] ..Amer�can.Academy.of.Forens�c.Sc�ences.Proceed�ngs.2006;12:368 .

5 .. Chaturved�.AK,.Soper.JW,.Cardona.PS,.Canf�eld.DV ..Appl�cat�on.of.qual�ty.�nstruments.�n.av�at�on.tox�cology.operat�ons ..In:.An.ISO.workshop.dur�ng.the.Aerospace.Med�cal.Assoc�at�on.77th.Annual.Sc�ent�f�c.Meet�ng;.Orlando,.FL;.2006 .

6 .. Soper.JW,.Chaturved�.AK,.Canf�eld.DV ..Beyond.ISO-9001,. laboratory. cert�f�cat�on. under. ISO-17025 ..In:.An.ISO.workshop.dur�ng.the.Aerospace.Med�cal.Assoc�at�on.77th.Annual.Sc�ent�f�c.Meet-�ng;.Orlando,.FL;.2006 .

7 .. ABFT .. Amer�can. Board. of. Forens�c. Tox�col-ogy. (ABFT). laboratory. accred�tat�on. program;.Retr�eved. on. 25. June. 2008. from. www .abft .org/.documents/Laboratory%20Accred�tat�on%20.Brochure%202006 .pdf .

11

8 .. SOFT/AAFS ..The.Soc�ety.of.Forens�c.Tox�colog�sts,.Inc ..(SOFT)/Amer�can.Academy.Forens�c.Sc�ences.(AAFS).forens�c.tox�cology.laboratory.gu�del�nes,.2006.vers�on;.Retr�eved.on.09.Apr�l. 2008. from.www .soft-tox .org/docs/Gu�del�nes%202006%20F�nal .pdf .

9 .. Chaturved�.AK ..The.f�rst.seven.years.(1991-1998).of.the.FAA’s.postmortem.forens�c.tox�cology.pro-f�c�ency-test�ng.program ..Wash�ngton,.DC:.U .S ..Department. of.Transportat�on,. Federal. Av�at�on.Adm�n�strat�on,.Off�ce.of.Av�at�on.Med�c�ne;.1999.Apr ..Report.No .:.DOT/FAA/AM-99/11 .

10 .. Chaturved�.AK ..The.FAA’s.postmortem.forens�c.tox�-cology.self-evaluated.prof�c�ency.test.program:.The.f�rst.seven.years ..J.Forens�c.Sc�.2000;45(2):422–8 .

11 .. Code.of.Federal.Regulat�ons.(CFR) ..T�tle.21—Food.and. drugs,. Chapter. II—Drug. Enforcement. Ad-m�n�strat�on,.Department.of.Just�ce,.Part.1308—.Schedules.of. controlled. substances ..Wash�ngton,.DC:.U .S ..Government.Pr�nt�ng.Off�ce,.2002 .

12 .. W�nek.CL,.Wahba.WW,.W�nek.CL,.Jr .,.Balzer.TW ..W�nek’s.drug.&.chem�cal.blood-level.data.2001 ..P�ttsburgh,.PA:.C .L ..W�nek;.2002 .

13 .. Uges.DRA ..Hosp�tal. tox�cology .. In:.Moffat.AC,.Osselton.MD,.W�ddop.B,.Gal�chet.LY,.eds ..Clarke’s.analys�s.of.drugs.and.po�sons.�n.pharmaceut�cals,.body. flu�ds. and. postmortem. mater�al .. 3rd. ed ..London,.UK:.Pharmaceut�cal.Press;.2004:3–36 .

14 .. Repetto. MR,. Repetto. M .. Concentrat�ons. �n.human. flu�ds:. 101. drugs. affect�ng. the. d�gest�ve.system. and. metabol�sm .. J. Tox�col. Cl�n. Tox�col.1999;37(1):1–8 .

15 .. Repetto.MR,.Repetto.M ..Therapeut�c,.tox�c,.and.lethal.concentrat�ons.of.73.drugs.affect�ng.resp�ra-tory.system.�n.human.flu�ds ..J.Tox�col.Cl�n.Tox�col.1998;36(4):287–93 .

16 .. Repetto.MR,.Repetto.M ..Hab�tual,.tox�c,.and.lethal.concentrat�ons.of.103.drugs.of.abuse.�n.humans ..J.Tox�col.Cl�n.Tox�col.1997;35(1):1–9 .

17 .. Repetto.MR,.Repetto.M ..Therapeut�c,.tox�c,.and.lethal.concentrat�ons.�n.human.flu�ds.of.90.drugs.affect�ng.the.card�ovascular.and.hematopo�et�c.sys-tems ..J.Tox�col.Cl�n.Tox�col.1997;35(4):345–51 .

18 .. Baselt.RC ..D�spos�t�on.of.tox�c.drugs.and.chem�-cals.�n.man ..7th.ed ..Foster.C�ty,.CA:.B�omed�cal.Publ�cat�ons;.2004 .

19 .. E�chorst. J .. ß-Phenethylam�ne. causes. false. pos�-t�ve. amphetam�nes. �n. post. mortem. spec�mens.when. tested. by. SYVA. EMIT .. Forens�c. Sc�. Int.1991;50(1):139–40 .

20 .. Stevens.HM,.Evans.PD ..Ident�f�cat�on.tests. for.bases. formed. dur�ng. the. putrefact�on. of. v�s-ceral.mater�al ..Acta.Pharmacol.Tox�col.(Copenh).1973;32(6):525–52 .

21 .. Meyer. E,. Van. Bocxlaer. J,. Lambert. W,. Th�en-pont. L,. De. Leenheer. A .. α-Phenylethylam�ne.�dent�f�ed. �n. jud�c�al. samples .. Forens�c. Sc�. Int.1995;76(2):159–60 .