U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Funding & Awards
 Combining LC-MS/MS Product-Ion Scan Technology with GC-MS Analysis to Identify Drugs and Poisons in Postmortem Fluidsand Tissues
Award Information
Awardee
              MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
Award #
              2019-DU-BX-0002
Funding Category
              Competitive Discretionary
Location
                    MIAMI, FL
Congressional District
              27
Status
              Past Project Period End Date
Funding First Awarded
              2019
Total funding (to date)
              $372,438
Original Solicitation
              Research and Evaluation for the Testing and Interpretation of Physical Evidence in Publicly Funded Forensic Laboratories, FY 2019
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2019, $372,438)
Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner Department Toxicology Laboratory (MDME) maintains a scope of testing which can identify a broad spectrum of drugs/poisons in order to successfully aid in the determination of cause and manner of death. Using the most effective analytical techniques for screening a broad range of drugs and poisons is todays most significant challenge for forensic toxicology laboratories, becoming more evident since 2010 due to the growth of novel synthesized drugs or new psychoactive substances (NPS) flooding the local community. Designing adequate screening protocols that are comprehensive and accurate in drug identification while controlling operating costs and turnaround time has been a strong initiative for most laboratories.
MDME has successfully conducted preliminary studies that evaluate the effectiveness of fast-scanning liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS), creating a detailed merged-product ion scan spectra with library search capabilities to identify substances more accurately. The projects intent is to establish its effectiveness in replacing more traditional immunoassay testing procedures that are costly, of limited scope, non-specific, and can only provide presumptive results. The goal is to develop a superior screening protocol that combines fast-scanning LC/MS/MS technology with the currently utilized GC/MS screening technique. By merging these two analytical tools, GC/MS and LC/MS/MS, a broader range of drugs can be identified more efficiently and at appropriate drug concentrations for postmortem analysis.
MDME requests funding to purchase instrumentation/supplies to evaluate 1,500 postmortem cases using the combination of GC/MS and LC/MS/MS testing protocols. Overall turnaround time, labor, cost, and the quality of the results will be evaluated and compared to past protocols. The laboratory will incorporate this new screening approach and technology into its routine testing procedures to achieve these objectives:
-Complete development of methodology to screen for 400 drugs, including the newest NPS, as well as routine pharmaceuticals, using full spectra product ion scanning with library matching;
-Replace the current immunoassay screening procedures that are costly and unreliable in modern day screening; and
-Reduce overall costs and turnaround time of the current testing procedures by eliminating additional testing necessary under the old approach.
Note: This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law, and complies with Part 200 Uniform Requirements - 2 CFR 200.210(a)(14).
CA/NCF



  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      Combining LC/MS/MS Product-ion Scan Technology with GC/MS Analysis to Identify Drugs and Poisons in Postmortem Fluids and Tissues

  
Date Created: September 13, 2019
    
          Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              Current Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Forthcoming Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Expired Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
    
      
            
            
            
      Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
    
      
            
            
            
      Fellowship & Student Programs
    
      
            
            
            
      Travel Scholarships
    
      
            
            
            
      NIJ Challenge ProgramSimilar Awards
        
                      Procedural Justice in Jails
                  Community-Led Learning: A Collaborative Approach to Training and Technical Assistance for Violent Crime Problem Analyses
                  A 28-year longitudinal study of victimization and perpetration of violence in high-risk youth: Advancing the development of preventive interventions in the community
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov