Citation

Aderjan R, Schutz H, Kaferstein H, Wilske J. Blutalkohol 2003; 40(5): 337-342.

Affiliation

Aderjan, R., Inst. F. Rechtsmed. und Verkehrsmed., Universitatsklinikum, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, International Committee on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety and Bund gegen Alkohol und Drogen im Straßenverkehr, Publisher Steintor Verlag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The committee for "questions of threshold values for medical and addictive drugs" consists of delegates from specialist German scientific societies, namely the Gesellschaft fur toxikologische und forensische Chemie (GTFCh), Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Rechtsmedizin (DGRM) and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Verkehrsmedizin (DGVM). This committee recommends that blood samples be analysed using only conclusive methods, ideally gas chromatography or liquid chromatography in conjunction with mass spectroscopy, which would enable substance identification, discrimination from active and inactive metabolites and the determination of necessary concentration. Furthermore, a procedure including appropriate internal and external quality control for forensic purposes is recommended. As with urine testing, simple and quick tests can be carried out with blood samples using immunological measurements to show the presence of drug residues. However, these tests are unsuitable to prove a law infringement according to (section) 24a sec. 2 StVG as explained by the terms "false positive" or "false negative" as well as examples given.