Effective column extraction from decomposed tissue in a suspected overdose case involving maprotiline and amitriptyline.
This paper describes the use of a Celite 560 column extraction technique in the initial separation of drugs from the contents of the skull of a severely decomposed body. Analysis of the extract obtained resulted in the determination of the presence of amitriptyline, and maprotiline and two of its metabolites. As a consequence, the laboratory was able to provide the medical examiner with information concerning an extremely difficult case.
D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000032:analysis* / Q000506:poisoning; D000873:Anthracenes / Q000032:analysis*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008376:Maprotiline / Q000032:analysis* / Q000506:poisoning; D008875:Middle Aged; D011180:Postmortem Changes
D000873:Anthracenes; D000639:Amitriptyline; D008376:Maprotiline