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
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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 .