Thesis
Development and validation of analytical protocol for forensic investigation of benzodiazepines and other psychoactive compounds
- Creator
- Rights statement
- Awarding institution
- University of Strathclyde
- Date of award
- 2026
- Thesis identifier
- T18071
- Person Identifier (Local)
- 201967785
- Qualification Level
- Qualification Name
- Department, School or Faculty
- Abstract
- The increasing workload in forensic laboratories in Kuwait often results in prolonged delays in processing samples, which can significantly affect the reliability of drug detection in both postmortem cases and samples from living individuals. In light of this, an assessment of the stability of drugs, such as the benzodiazepines (BDZs), amphetamines, opioids and other controlled drugs like pregabalin and gabapentin which are commonly abused, becomes crucial in forensic toxicology to determine the effects of storage on the viability of these samples. Chapter two of this thesis addresses this issue by focusing on the development and validation of analytical methods to detect five benzodiazepines (alprazolam, bromazepam, clonazepam, flunitrazepam, and diazepam) that are commonly encountered during forensic investigations in Kuwait. An HPLC method was designed and refined utilising International Council for Harmonisation guidelines to ensure the accuracy, repeatability, and robustness of the method. The developed method was applied to perform stability assessments on the chosen BDZs, revealing that the integrity of samples diminishes significantly after three weeks at room temperature, while refrigeration helps preserve sample integrity. These findings stress the importance of proper storage conditions to maintain sample validity during forensic investigations. In Chapter three, the real-world application of the developed method was explored by utilising it to screen a collection of 48 urine samples collected from individuals under investigation for suspected drug-related offenses. This revealed a high prevalence of BDZ use, with over 93% of samples testing positive. The detection of flunitrazepam, in particular, highlights the method’s sensitivity and potential role in supporting criminal investigations involving controlled substances. Beyond this, the research study included the development of an HPLC-MS method which utilises a shorter column than the HPLC method, resulting in a significant reduction in analysis time required per sample while maintaining accuracy and precision. This method can also be extended to include metabolites, making it suitable for routine toxicological screening in forensic laboratories. Chapter four contains a stand-alone study conducted during the COVID19 lockdown. The experiments in this study analysed a new oxazolidinone compound (PH192) with anticonvulsant potential. The study developed a UHPLC-QToF-MS method that was successfully validated and applied to the analysis of the oxazolidinone compound (PH-192). Lastly, the studies in Chapter 5 sought to incorporate a broader drug screening approach for the identification of a wide range of substances that are often abused in Kuwait, such as the amphetamine, codeine diazepam and the controlled anticonvulsant drug pregabalin. An HPLCUV method was developed and validated, along with preliminary GC-MS analyses, to capture both UV-active compounds and compounds with limited UV activity. The GC-MS method requires further refinement; however, it shows strong potential for comprehensive toxicological screening. In summary, this research contributes to forensic science by offering reliable, validated methods for drug detection, identification and stability evaluation utilising equipment that are readily available in forensic laboratories in Kuwait. The findings not only enhance local forensic capabilities but also provide a framework for broader applications in forensic toxicology worldwide.
- Advisor / supervisor
- Khadra, Ibrahim
- Rattray, Nicholas
- Dufes, Christine
- Resource Type
- Note
- Note from title page: "This thesis includes a standalone chapter; therefore, the literature review and the introduction will reflect this and will include topics that are not related to each other.”
- DOI
- Date Created
- 2025
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