Exploring multiple dimensions in the forensics of “space candy”

In forensic toxicology laboratories, the accuracy and precision of an analytical technique are essential in determining what drugs or chemicals may have played a role in an individual's death. In #BehindtheScience, Jen travels to Boston University's outdoor research facility, where grad students and law enforcement are trained on crime scene investigation. Is it possible to use one analytical technique to test a variety of different matrices - liquid or solid?

Sabra Botch-Jones, an assistant professor at Boston University School of Medicine's Biomedical Forensic Sciences department, joins Claude Mallet of Waters in the analytical laboratory. They show Jen a protocol to tests solid samples, starting with homogenization to convert the solid into a liquid, followed by extraction, then analysis by multidimensional chromatography, or 2DLC, to identify what drugs to target for analysis.

See their full scientific method in our application note: http://www.waters.com/2Danalysis

Watch our first episode with Sabra and Claude on how forensic laboratories use 2DLC, or LCxLC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSpzwSAIaLM

See 2D LC instrument from Waters:
http://www.waters.com/waters/ACQUITY-UPLC-2D-LC-multidimensional-LC/nav.htm?cid=10203030&locale=101

Boston University School of Medicine's Forensics program:
https://www.bu.edu/academics/gms/programs/biomedical-forensic-sciences/