title: Detection of the spermicide nonoxynol-9 via GC-MS.
abstract: The spermicide nonoxynol-9 is actually a complex mixture of dozens of closely related amphiphilic compounds, and the chemical properties of this assortment significantly hamper its characterization by GC-MS. The inability to perform routine GC-MS testing on nonoxynol-9 has limited its evidentiary value in forensic casework, which relies heavily on this technique for analysis. A disturbing trend in sexual assault is the use of condoms by assailants, to avoid leaving behind DNA evidence that can connect a perpetrator to a victim. This observation necessitates the development of alternative methods for the analysis of trace evidence that can show causal links between a victim and a suspect. Detection of lubricants associated with sexual assault is one such way to establish this connection. The development of GC-MS methods that permit facile detection of both nonoxynol-9 alone and nonoxynol-9 extracted from other complex matrices that have potential as trace evidence in sexual assault is reported. A detection limit of 2.14 μg of nonoxynol-9 is demonstrated, and a detailed mass spectral profile that elaborates on what is known of its structure is provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA.
authors.forename: Rabi A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Musah
authors.forename: Angela L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Vuong
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Henck
authors.forename: Jason R E
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Shepard
mesh_terms: D005554:Forensic Medicine; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008752:Methylene Chloride; D017137:Nonoxynol / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D013089:Spermatocidal Agents; D017137:Nonoxynol; D008752:Methylene Chloride