Examining the distribution of ketamine and metabolites in decomposed skeletal tissues: development of a high throughput approach and application to an environmental and decomposition study

Abstract

The use of skeletal tissues in forensic toxicology research has increased dramatically in the last 5 years. These studies have yielded valuable information pertinent to using skeletal tissues as a biological matrix in drug analysis. The majority of these studies have been completed on a small scale so a larger scale is needed for further research. Here, a high throughput microwave assisted extraction (MAE) and microplate solid phase extraction (MPSPE) protocol is developed and implemented to examine how body position and microclimate affect ketamine and metabolite distribution in decomposed skeletal tissue. Analytes were successful recovered in 30 min following MAE compared to 180 min for passive solvent extraction (PSE). Body proved to be significantly different in the observed drug levels at both microclimates. The sunlit microclimate had significantly higher drug levels, with less maggot activity, compared to the shaded microclimate.