NCJ Number
184338
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 45 Issue: 4 Dated: July 2000 Pages: 876-881
Date Published
July 2000
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This research used internal reflection spectroscopy to generate an infrared spectral library containing 455 controlled and noncontrolled solid drug standards.
Abstract
Forensic drug analysis by internal reflection spectroscopy is a new application of an established infrared method. The method produces attenuated total reflection spectra when samples are placed in optical contact with the surface of an internal reflecting element. The present research obtained all attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectra with small diamond internal reflection elements. ATR spectra will have minor variations from transmission spectra commonly found in commercial infrared libraries. ATR is a confirmatory technique for analyzing controlled and noncontrolled drugs in the forensic setting. The small size of sample ease of sample preparation, speed of analysis, and reproducibility of spectra make this an ideal method for drug analysis. The addition of this ATR spectral library gives the forensic scientist using ATR a new database to analyze drugs more quickly, accurately, and confidently than before. Figures and 3 references (Author abstract modified)