CHM 256 - Forensic Drug Detection Using Chromatography

[00:00:09][music] >> Hi, Assalamualaikum. My name is Nurul Ifa binti Ahmad Kamizi. My student ID is 2024276042.

[00:00:24]>> [music] >> Hi, Assalamualaikum. My name is Akilah Anani binti Zafri Anwar and my student ID is 2024260672.

[00:00:34]>> [music] >> Hi, my name is Raja Sofia Batrisyia binti Raja Saiful Izzan and my student ID is 2024691064.

[00:00:46]>> Hi, my name is Nurul Azila Khairina binti Zaharudin and my student ID is 2024444318.

[00:00:56]>> Hi, my name is Siti Roshafika [music] binti Muhammad Hanif and my student ID is 2024441946.

[00:01:08]>> [music] >> Before we go further, let's get to know about analytical chemistry.

[00:01:12]>> [music] >> So, when we talk about analytical chemistry, it is all about analysis.

[00:01:18]So, basically, [music] this is involved developing and applying method and high technology instruments to obtain precise [music] information about the composition, structure and nature of substance. [music] So, in other words, analytical chemistry is like a detective [music] in chemistry. There is two type of analysis in analytical chemistry that falls into two major branches.

[00:01:44]>> [music] >> The first branch is qualitative analysis. We use this type of analysis [music] when we want to identify the chemical elements or functional groups are present [music] in the substance.

[00:01:55]The second one is quantitative analysis.

[00:01:58]This type of analysis being used when we need to determine the amount of percentage >> [music] >> of those identified component.

[00:02:07]Just now, we understand the different [music] branches of analytical chemistry.

[00:02:12]Now, let's look at how this science functions in the real world through forensic science. Forensics >> [music] >> is the perfect example of applying this natural and digital science to legal investigations.

[00:02:26]Historically, courts relied [music] on subjective witness stories, but now, more than we have modern forensics that use [music] empirical method to detect, analyze, and interpret the scientific data to find objective >> [music] >> And the question is, how do we actually get that proof from a piece of physical evidence?

[00:02:52]The answer [music] is, we can use techniques in analytical chemistry called classical technique [music] and instrumental technique. So, what is chromatography? Chromatography is an analytical [music] method for separating and identifying a mixture constituent part. It function [music] by enabling the component of a mixture to pass through a stationary phase with the aid of a mobile phase. These phases will move at varying rates and separate because various substance >> [music] >> interact with them in different ways of a mobile phase. In order to identify and purify chemical substance, it's usually chromatography is [music] frequently used in scientific research, drug detection, and medicine.

[00:03:32]The second [music] one is principle of chromatography.

[00:03:35]So, the technique is based [music] on how substances have varying affinity for a stationary phase [music] and a mobile phase, which then it will causes each component to split [music] and move at various speed. The first phase is mobile phase. Mobile phase is the phase that move through the stationary phase.

[00:03:55]It can be a liquid or a gas. And then, it carry the mixture along the stationary phase. [music] And usually, the component that are more strongly attracted to the mobile phase [music] will move more quickly.

[00:04:08]And then, the second one is stationary phase. Stationary phase is the phase [music] that remain fixed and does not move during chromatography. It may be a [music] solid material or a liquid supported on a solid surface.

[00:04:22]The component that are more strongly [music] attracted to the stationary phase will move more slowly.

[00:04:28]>> [music] >> Due to these differences in movement, the component of the mixture will become separated. Thus, the separation [music] will allow us to see the component to be identified, analyzed, [music] or purified.

[00:04:43]>> So, next we go with the importance of drug detection in forensic science. Do you guys imagine uh if in the [music] crime scenes, how we know the white powder is whether [music] sugar, flour, or an illegal drug. So, that's why drug detections comes in. So, [music] drug detection is important because it helps forensic scientists identify [music] unknown substances accurately. It also helps investigators solve drug-related crimes [music] such as drug trafficking and illegal possessions.

[00:05:15]Besides that, drug testing [music] can be used on biological samples like blood, urine, and hair to determine whether someone has taken illegal [music] drugs.

[00:05:25]Most importantly, the results can be used as scientific [music] evidence in a court, which is it helping judges make fair decisions. So, [music] drug detections plays a major role in both crime investigation and public safety.

[00:05:41]Okay, let's move [music] on. Do you guys ever wonder what the theory of forensic drug detections?

[00:05:47]Firstly, the basic [music] idea is that different compounds move at different speeds. When a sample enters the chromatography system, the [music] compounds begin to separate based on their chemical properties. As shown in the flow diagram, the process [music] starts with the sample collection and preparation. The sample is then injected into the chromatography system, where the compounds are separated [music] in a column. Next, the separated compounds pass through a detector, [music] which produce a chromatogram.

[00:06:19]So, basically, chromatograph is like a fingerprint [music] for chemicals because each drug creates its own unique patterns.

[00:06:29]By comparing this pattern with [music] known drug standards, forensic scientists can identify the drug present in the sample.

[00:06:36]This make chromatography a reliable and powerful tool in forensic drug detections.

[00:06:41]>> [music] >> Urine test is one of the most commonly used method for drug detection because [music] it is simple, cost-effective, and non-invasive. When a person consumes a drug, the body metabolizes it into chemical byproducts known as metabolites, [music] which are excreted through the kidney and can be detected in urine samples.

[00:07:04]The procedure typically involves collecting a urine sample in a sterile container and analyzing it using screening [music] tests such as as immunoassay.

[00:07:15]Positive results are usually confirmed using more [music] advanced techniques, including gas chromatography with mass spectrometry or using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry.

[00:07:28]Urine testing also can detect a wide range of drugs and is widely used in clinical, forensic, and rehabilitation.

[00:07:37]Next, we have blood testing, which is it detect drug and their metabolite directly in the bloodstream, making it one of the most accurate method for identifying recent drug use. It is because drug enter the bloodstream shortly after the consumption, which blood analyzes can provide information about the concentration of a substance in the body and help to determine whether an individual is currently under the influence of drug.

[00:08:05]This method is commonly used in medical, forensic, and legal legal settings. Although it is more invasive and expensive than the urine testing.

[00:08:15]Saliva testing, which is also known as a oral fluid testing, involves collecting a sample from inside the mouth using a swab. Drug present in the bloodstream can pass into the saliva, allowing recent drug use to be detected. This method is increasingly used in workplace screening and roadside testing because it is quick, convenient, and difficult to tamper with. However, saliva testing generally has a shorter detection window than urine or hair testing and is the most effective for identifying [music] recent drug exposure.

[00:08:51]A small sample of hair, which is usually taken from the [music] scalp, to detect drugs and their metabolites that has been incorporated into the hair shaft through the bloodstream. As the hair grows, traces of drugs remain embedded within the hair structure, providing a long-term record of drug use. Hair analysis is alternatively useful for detecting repeated or chronic drug use over several months. It is commonly used in workplace, forensic, and legal settings. However, it is generally less effective for identifying very recent drug consumption because drug require time [music] to become incorporated into growing hair.

[00:09:34]Sweat testing use a sweat [music] patch attached to the skin to collect sweat continuously over a period of days or weeks. Drug and their metabolites excrete through the sweat accumulated within the patch and can be later be analyzed in the laboratory. This method is often used in rehabilitation programs, probation, monitoring, and research study where continuous [music] monitoring of drug use is required.

[00:10:01]Although sweat testing [music] is less commonly used than urine or blood testing, it provides valuable information about drug exposure over extended period.

[00:10:13]There are few cases in drug detection that I have [music] been searched which is detection of lisdexamfetamine in a forensic investigation [music] in 2023.

[00:10:22]In a forensic autopsy case, investigators test the urine and stomach [music] contents of a deceased person to check for drug use using the liquid chromatography. They detect lisdexamfetamine [music] and its metabolite d-amphetamine.

[00:10:39]The result help forensic experts [music] determine whether the drug contribute to person's death.

[00:10:45]This case showed the important of drug detection in forensic investigation.

[00:10:51]>> Let's [music] discuss the advantages of chromatography in forensic drug detection. [music] First, chromatography offers high sensitivity and trace detection. This means it can identify extremely small amount of drugs >> [music] >> even when only trace residues are present on clothing, surfaces, biological samples, [music] or evidence collected from crime scenes.

[00:11:15]Second, chromatography is considered the gold standard for reliability in forensic laboratories. [music] The technique provides accurate and reproducible results, making it highly trusted [music] by forensic scientists and acceptable as scientific uh, in the court proceedings. Another important advantage [music] is its ability to distinguish genuine drugs from counterfeit drugs. By analyzing the chemical [music] composition of a sample, chromatography can determine whether a pharmaceutical [music] product contains the correct active ingredients or has been illegally manufactured.

[00:11:52]Chromatography also has [music] broad applicability across different types of compounds. It can be used to detect a wide range of [music] substances, including narcotics, stimulants, prescription medication, [music] and their metabolites.

[00:12:07]In addition, chromatography provides rapid [music] analysis and high-resolution. Complex mixtures can be separated efficiently, allowing scientists to identify multiple compounds [music] within a single sample.

[00:12:20]Some chromatographic systems are designed to be portable for a field use.

[00:12:24]>> [music] >> These instruments allow preliminary drug screening at locations such as crime scenes, border checkpoints, [music] and airports, reducing the time needed for laboratory analysis.

[00:12:36]Finally, recent developments have introduced AI to enhance chromatographic analysis. AI algorithms can assist in peak [music] identification, data interpretation, and pattern recognition, improving [music] accuracy while reducing human error.

[00:12:54]Chromatography also has several limitations. One challenge is low analyte concentration. [music] When the amount of a drug present in a sample is extremely small, detection becomes more difficult and may require additional sample [music] preparation or concentration steps. Another limitation is signal suppression. [music] This occurs when other substances within the sample interfere with the target compound, reducing the [music] detector's response and affecting analytical accuracy.

[00:13:27]Chromatographic analysis [music] can also be affected by background noise.

[00:13:31]Unwanted signals from solvents, reagents, or [music] instrument components may interfere with the detection of a compound and make the data interpretation more [music] challenging. Lastly, overlapping peaks can occur when two or [singing] more compounds have similar retention times [music] and are not fully separated.

[00:13:51]This may complicate identification and quantification, especially when analyzing complex [music] forensic samples.

[00:14:00]In conclusion, chromatography is one of the [music] most powerful analytical techniques used in forensic drug detection. [music] It transforms invisible chemical information into reliable scientific evidence.

[00:14:13]Whether identifying [music] unknown substances, monitoring drug abuse, detecting counterfeit pharmaceuticals, or supporting [music] criminal investigations, chromatography provides accurate and dependable results.

[00:14:28]As a result, chromatography [music] remains an indispensable tool in forensic science, helping investigators uncover the truth [music] and ensuring the scientific evidence speaks clearly in the courtroom.

[00:14:42]>> [music]