Net Weights: Visualizing and Quantifying their Contribution to Drug Background Levels in Forensic Laboratories.

ABSTRACT: While the drug background in forensic laboratories has been quantified, the processes that most contribute to the background have not been extensively researched. This work presents both qualitative visualization and quantitative analysis of the spread of simulant drug particulate during the process of taking net weights. The process was modeled using three masses of powder (0.2 g, 2 g, and 100 g). The net weight process, in which the mixture was poured onto weighing paper, was mimicked and the resulting aerosolized particulate was allowed to settle. Wetted cotton swabs were then used to sample 6.45 cm² (1 in²) squares extending up to 61 cm (24 in) away from the weigh paper. The swabs were then extracted and quantified using LC-MS/MS and two-dimensional color plots we

SUBMITTER: Sisco E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8209848 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature