A methodology for illicit heroin seizures comparison in a drug intelligence perspective using large databases.
To characterise links between different illicit drugs chemical profiles, various distance or correlation measurements are available.Different comparison methods have been tested and a method based on a correlation coefficient using a square cosine function was chosen to compare heroin chemical profiles. Its functioning and graphical representation are described. An assessment of the number of false positives is calculated and lead to a negligible number.Moreover, it emerges from the studies that possible variations in impurity peak areas subject to possible degradations do not influence the C correlation value nor question the already established links. This solid, reliable and simple method appears therefore suitable for heroin samples comparison, links profiling and routine use.
Esseiva
P
P
Institut de Police Scientifique et de Criminologie, University of Lausanne, BCH, 1015 Lausanne-Dorigny, VD, Switzerland. pierre.esseiva@ipsc.unil.ch
Dujourdy
L
L
Anglada
F
F
Taroni
F
F
Margot
P
P
D003415:Crime; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000592:standards*; D003932:Heroin / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000737:chemistry*
D013287:Illicit Drugs; D003932:Heroin