Optimized and Validated DBS/MAE/LC–MS Method for Rapid Determination of Date-Rape Drugs and Cocaine in Human Blood Samples—A New Tool in Forensic Analysis

The aim of this work was to develop a new method for the determination of selected substances from the date-rape drugs group: ketamine, benzodiazepines and cocaine. The method is based on the dried blood spot method which seems to be a suitable tool in the analysis of tested substances. The extraction process based on microwave-assisted extraction was optimized to enable optimal conditions for the isolation of a wide range of analytes from blood samples collected on DBS cards. The extraction with ethyl acetate with a buffer of pH = 9 carried out at a temperature of 50 °C for 15 min ensured high extraction efficiency of the tested analytes. The optimized method was validated. Limits of detection (LOD = 4.38–21.1 ng/mL) and quantification (LOQ = 14.6–70.4 ng/mL), inter- and intra-day precision (CV = 1.37–13.4% and 3.39–14.8%, respectively), recovery (RE = 93.0–112.4%) and matrix effect (ME = 98.4–101.6%) were determined. The validation results indicate the possibility of using the proposed method in the analysis of real blood samples collected from victims of sexual assault.

An E-Ornament for Women to Escape the Effects of Date Rape Drugs

India is a developing country which had shown several successful faces in various fields. Though there is a good rate of social, economic and political development in our country on one hand, the amount of violence, crimes and illegal activities are increasing on the other hand. With regard to this, a survey of National Crime Records Bureau had stated that the fourth most common crime in our country is Sexual Assault. To ensnare the victims of sexual assault, women trafficking, robbery and other crimes related to women, criminals most probably uses date rape drugs. In this paper, we had put forth an idea of developing an Electronic Band which would be help for automatic indication and earlier rescue of the victim. This E-ORNAMENT is fitted with system interfaced with sensors which keeps an eye on the body conditions of women wearing the band. When there is a sudden change in usual pulse rate, body temperature and activity state of the victim, an automatic message of changes noticed in the body conditions along with the location of the victim is generated from the e-band and sent to her family or friends such that they can ensure with the victim about her safety (or) In case of no response received from her, they can rescue the victim as soon as possible. We hereby use tools such as Microcontroller, Pulse Rate Monitoring Sensor, Temperature Sensor and Panic safety button.