Analytical Methods Blog

Professor Simon Lewis and colleagues from Curtin University, Perth, Australia have developed a sensitive and selective analytical method utilising liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) operated in multiple reaction monitoring mode for the semi-quantitative determination of 19 biogenic amines and amino acids in mammalian (porcine) decomposition fluid.

The study of mammalian soft tissue decomposition is an emerging area in forensic science. An understanding of this process is extremely important for investigations of suspicious deaths as it complicates determination of cause of death and makes the estimation of postmortem interval (PMI) very difficult. The first step to understanding this chemistry is identifying the compounds present in decomposition fluid and determining when they are produced.

Determination of amino acids and amines in mammalian decomposition fluid by direct injection liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry
Lisa M. Swann, Francesco Busetti and Simon W. Lewis
Anal. Methods, 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C1AY05447C