title: The detection of flunitrazepam in beverages using portable Raman spectroscopy.
abstract: Portable Raman spectroscopy has been used for the detection of the date-rape drug flunitrazepam in spiked beverages that may be involved in cases of drug-facilitated sexual assault. Solutions of flunitrazepam with different concentrations were prepared in water and for each beverage type. Although some bands attributable to the beverage matrix are present, they did not interfere with the identification of the drug. Definitive evidence for contamination of the spiked drink concerned can be acquired within 10 s. The data can be acquired in situ and sample extraction and/or preparation steps are unnecessary. The ability of portable Raman spectrometers to interrogate spiked alcoholic beverages with flunitrazepam has been demonstrated. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Sohag Faculty of Medicine, Sohag, Egypt.|Division of Chemical and Forensic Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, BD7 1DP, UK.
authors.forename: Esam M A
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemical and Forensic Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, BD7 1DP, UK.
authors.forename: Howell G M
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000032:analysis*; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D005445:Flunitrazepam / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection; D011902:Rape; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D005445:Flunitrazepam
keywords: beverages; flunitrazepam; forensic; portable Raman spectroscopy