Determination of safety margins for whole blood concentrations of alcohol and nineteen drugs in driving under the influence cases

Forensic Science International : Synergy
L KristoffersenMagne Aldrin

Abstract

Legislative limits for driving under the influence of 20 non-alcohol drugs were introduced in Norway in February 2012. Per se limits corresponding to blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) of 0.2g/kg were established for 20 psychoactive drugs, and limits for graded sanctions corresponding to BACs of 0.5 and 1.2g/kg were determined for 13 of these drugs. This new legislation made it possible for the courts to make sentences based on the analytical results, similar to the situation for alcohol. To ensure that the reported concentration is as least as high as the true concentration, with a 99% safety level, safety margins had to be calculated for each of the substances. Diazepam, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and alcohol were used as model substances to establish a new model for estimating the safety margins. The model was compared with a previous used model established several years ago, by a similar yet much simpler model, and they were found to be in agreement. The measurement uncertainties depend on the standard batch used, the work list and the measurements' replicate. A Bayesian modelling approach was used to determine the parameters in the model, using a dataset of 4700 diazepam positive specimens and 5400 THC positive specimens. ...Continue Reading

References

Jul 1, 1986·Journal of Analytical Toxicology·A S Christophersen
Aug 18, 2005·Journal of Analytical Toxicology·Lena Kristoffersen, Anne Smith-Kielland
Jun 20, 2006·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Frank T PetersFrank Musshoff
Jan 16, 2009·Journal of Chromatography. B, Analytical Technologies in the Biomedical and Life Sciences·Thomas BergDag Helge Strand
May 31, 2011·Journal of Analytical Toxicology·Elisabeth Leere OiestadAsbjørg Solberg Christophersen
Nov 29, 2011·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Vigdis VindenesJørg Mørland
Nov 29, 2011·Journal of Chromatography. B, Analytical Technologies in the Biomedical and Life Sciences·E N SauveA M L Øiestad
Jan 10, 2012·Journal of Chromatography. B, Analytical Technologies in the Biomedical and Life Sciences·Sandra Rinne DahlDag Helge Strand
Feb 21, 2013·Journal of Analytical Toxicology·Thomas BergDag Helge Strand

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