Cerebrospinal fluid in forensic toxicology: Current status and future perspectives. (August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wachholz, Paulina; Skowronek, Rafał; Pawlas, Natalia
• Is Part Of: Journal of forensic and legal medicine. Volume 82(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-08
• Subjects: Forensic toxicology -- Specimen selection/collection -- Drug distribution -- Cerebrospinal fluid -- Postmortem distribution -- Alternative materials; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Forensic sciences -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine légale -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2021.102231
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1752-928X

Abstract

Abstract: In forensic toxicology, alternative biological materials are very useful and important, e.g. in the case of lack of basic body fluids. One alternative biological material is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The procedures of the collection of biological material during the autopsy are performed in accordance with local, usually national recommendations, which most often require updating. It is very difficult to assess the possibility of using CSF as an alternative biological material for toxicological studies for the presence of drugs, intoxicants, including new psychoactive substances (commonly known as designer drugs), psychotropic substances, and ethyl alcohol, based on current data. Previous research suggests that CSF may be useful in toxicological studies, but these aspects need to be investigated more carefully because studies have collected CSF from different sites and often the results of different authors are not comparable. It would be necessary to prepare guidelines, e.g. the site of CSF collection that may influence the results of quantitative analysis. It would also be necessary to replicate some studies with a different collection site or a more recent analytical technique, e.g. for comparative testing of blood ethanol and cerebrospinal fluid. Cerebrospinal fluid can be a valuable information carrier in the absence of classic biological material from an autopsy. Investigating these aspects in more detail could allow the future use of this alternative material for routine toxicology analyzes in a forensic laboratory. Highlights: CSF can be used as alternative biological material in forensic toxicological analysis. CSF shows potential in the toxicological analysis in the cases of new psychoactive compounds poisoning. Additional research will be required to assess the best place to collect CSF from the body. Additional research on sampling site and method of CSF collecting will be required.