Sample Preparation News

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are widely used in the manufacturing of various industrial and consumer products including nonstick food packaging, stain repellents and aqueous film-forming foams. In a recent paper published in Chemosphere ( (2018) 199 168-173) by Adcharee...

Mitragynine is a novel psychoactive substance (NPS) that has emerged as a designer opioid. Also known as kratom, it possesses both stimulant-like and sedative effects due to dual-binding of α-adrenergic and μ-opioid receptors. This herbal remedy is readily available online...

Fungal bloodstream infections have been noted as a significant problem in many countries including the United States, with an attributable mortality rate of up to 40%. An early diagnosis to direct appropriate therapy has been shown to be critical to...

In Spain, the implementation of the points-based driving license helps to change the drivers’ behavior and is related to a reduction of traffic accidents and fatalities. When a driver loses all points, the driving license is revoked and the driver...

Brazil is one of the largest veterinary markets in the world, and aquaculture, in particular fish farming, is the fastest growing sector of animal food production in the country. In fish farming, antimicrobials, including sulfonamides, are used for the treatment...

UCT would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Mariem Al Bouwalda for winning the 2018 UCT sponsored “Best Overall Chemistry Performance” in the specialized field of Nanotechnology. Mariem is a student at the Dublin Institute of Technology’s School of Chemistry & Pharmaceutical...

In produce processing, water used to wash both fresh and fresh-cut produce is commonly treated with sanitizers for the purpose of controlling pathogens and minimizing microbial cross-contamination. Chlorine-based sanitizers are most commonly used for produce processing in the food industry...

Analysis of umbilical cord samples offers forensic toxicologists a method for evaluating maternal drug intake patterns. These matrices may be an uncommon sample for many laboratories, but for those that are tasked with the challenge, solid phase extraction offers the...

For many forensic toxicologists, studying the biological pathways of illicit drugs is important if offering interpretation to the submitting agents. One of the most common drugs seen by forensic toxicologists on a routine basis is cocaine. The pharmacokinetic profile of...

In Forensic Toxicology, ion suppression or enhancement of analytes due to incomplete removal of matrix components can negatively impact analytical methods. Based on the Scientific Working Group for Forensic Toxicology (now OSAC) Standard Practices for Method Validation in Forensic Toxicology,...