Improved Forensic Toxicology Screening Using A GC/MS/NPD System with a 725-Compound DRS Database Application

Laboratories that perform toxicology screens are challenged by the requirement to look for large numbers of target compounds in samples that contain complex matrix interferences. GC/MS methods are widely used and accepted for this analysis. Full-scan EI methods offer many advantages for broad-range screening, such as unlimited numbers of targets, full-spectrum identity confirmation, and library searching for identification of nontargets. With recent advances in GC/MS technology, there are several opportunities to substantially increase the number of targets screened for and simultaneously reduce the time required per sample. With the system described here, samples are screened for 725 compounds using Agilent's G1674AA Forensic Toxicology DBL. Data review time is substantially reduced using Agilent Deconvolution Reporting Software. Post-run bakeout of heavy-matrix compounds is replaced with column backflushing, which is faster and reduces system maintenance. Run time is reduced by using a fast GC run (9.75 min injection to injection) and simultaneously collecting scan, SIM, and NPD data. The scan data is deconvoluted and used to identify any of the 725 target compounds. SIM data is used to look for select low-level Improved Forensic Toxicology Screening Using A GC/MS/NPD System with a 725-Compound DRS Database