International Journal of Forensic Science

Questioned document examination is a domain of forensic science pertaining to documents whose authenticity is hypothetically doubtful in a court of law. The major reason of analysis is to provide evidence about suspicious documents by employing number of scientific principles and methods. Questioned documents has always been a challenge in forensic investigations as it does not have set protocols for investigation, each case is of unique nature and basis of discovery of new methods and techniques. In this case study the authors found a peculiar similarity between the signatures of two male individuals who were distantly related to each other. The interesting fact about their relation was that they were in acquired relation i.e., having no connection of blood,  but they were both found to execute similar model of signature. These signatures on preliminary examination were found to be pictorially so similar that for a layman it could create confusion that it belongs to same writer. Even it has been noted that not only class characteristics were found to be of similar nature but also the prominent visible individual characteristics were similar. Thus, at this very point it becomes important for a forensic expert to identify and differentiate the writers of such models of signature on considering the parameters which has been discussed in the present investigation.

Keywords: Questioned Document; Handwriting Features; Simulated Forgery.
 

The present study highlights the proper preservation and collection of biological, visceral material and consequences of irrelevant and improper preservation of these materials especially on quality of results and finally remedial steps to overcome quality and pendency related issues of cases in toxicology section of forensic science laboratory. 

Keywords: Forensic Science; Visceral Material.
 

The combination of HPLC with Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS) or Tandem Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS/ MS) is one of the most advanced and widely used technique for both qualitative as well as quantitative analysis of various diverse types of compounds including drugs, pesticides, micronutrients as well as naturally occurring toxic substances. This leads to the fact that many of the practitioners should be well versed with this technique. This review paper focusses on introduction, instrumentation as well as precautions that should be taken for using it. A wide variety of applications are also discussed along with advancements for making it time as well as cost-efficient.

Keywords: Mass Analyzer; Ionization Technique; MS Detector etc.

 

Ethambutol is 1,2-diamino alcohol, being a medication it is primarily used to treat tuberculosis. It plays an important role in antitubercular agent inhibiting the synthesis of spermidine in myobacteria and also inhibit transfer of mycolic acids into cell wall of tubercle bacillus. The route of administration is oral and is easily available in market. This is readily absorbed by gastrointestinal tract and 50% excreted unchanged by urine. Being a powerful chemotherapeutic agent it is specifically effective against actively growing microorganism of yobacterium and tuberculosis. Its analysis is usually done from biological samples such as blood and urine which are the main sample of choice in management and medicolegal cases. There are several techniques such as Gas chromatograph (GC), High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) for its analysis. These techniques are not only costly but also time consuming and require more sophisticated instruments handling. An attempt has been made to develop a new method for analysis of ethambutol in blood using High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography plate. Ethambutol was extracted from blood using liquid-liquid extraction method and analyzed by using High Performance Thin Layer Chromatographic plate. For chromatographic separation various solvent systems were used as mobile phase. After the development of plates they were examined under UV light followed by spray of chromogenic reagents such as ninhydrin and iodine fumes which successfully increase the sensitivity without dispensing with the simplicity of the method. Present method is simple, non destructive, reproducible and repeatable which can easily be performed in any laboratory.

Keywords: Ethambutol; Ninhydrin; Iodine Vapours; HPTLC Plate; Liquid-Liquid Extraction etc.