Ashok Kumar Jaiswal

Anti-arrhythmic drugs are those drugs that are used to suppress abnormal rhythms of the heart. It acts as restoration of normal rhythms of the heart and conduction of the heart. These drugs directly or indirectly alter the membrane ion conductance, which in turn alters the physical characteristics of cardiac action potentials. In India, Forensic Science Laboratories run by Government under the Home ministry usually carry out this. The samples must be analyzed by the forensic toxicologist/chemists/scientist. This article deals with the screening/spot test for anti-arrhythmic drugs. An attempts has been made for screening/spot/colour test of anti-arrhythmic drugs in a stepwise manner, which can be of handy reference for the forensic toxicologist/scientist/chemist. Keywords: Antiarrhythmic, Screening, Spot test.

Narcotics are the substances used to treat moderate to severe pain. They could be natural like opiates such as morphine, codeine etc., synthetic like fentanyl, methadone etc., and semi-synthetic like oxycodone, hydrocodone etc. These drugs act as pain relievers, induces the state of stupor or sleep, and increase the physical dependence on them. In forensic autopsy case, the forensic pathologist may require a complete toxicological investigation for different poisons including stimulants. In India, Forensic Science Laboratories run by Government under the Home ministry usually carry out this. The samples must be analysed by the forensic toxicologist/chemists/scientist. This article deals with the screening/spot test for narcotics. It attempts to simplify the standard procedures in a step-wise manner, which can be of handy reference for the forensic toxicologist. Keywords: Narcotics, Screening, Spot test, Drugs, Opioids etc.

Hallucinogens are diverse group of chemicals occurring naturally as well as synthetic. These drugs produce bizarre effects on the mind, such as distortion of time, space, sound, colour, and other sensations. It acts primarily on the central nervous system and interfere with the filtering mechanisms of the mind causing alterations in perceptions, thinking and moods. In India, Forensic Science Laboratories run by Government under the Home ministry usually carry out this. The samples must be analyzed by the forensic toxicologist/chemists/scientist. This article deals with the screening/spot test for hallucinogens. It attempts has been made for screening/spot/colour test of Hallucinogens in a stepwise manner, which can be of handy reference for the forensic toxicologist/scientist/chemist. Keywords: Hallucinogens, Screening, Spot test etc.

Copper resembles reddish-orange when freshly exposed. It is soft, malleable and ductile metal. It is an essential trace element present in human beings and helps in biological functioning of so many enzymes in our body. Copper is also used in others places like in pesticides, alloys and due to its high conductivity to heat and electricity it is used in electrical equipments such as wiring and motors. In its metallic state copper is not as such poisonous but some of its salts are poisonous like copper sulphate, copper subacetate, copper carbonate and its accumulation in body also cause disease in humans. The toxicity cause by copper is known as copperiedus. Source of exposure to copper toxicity or copperiedus is occupational (like people working in alloy factories or pesticides industries) and non-occupational which is through contaminated water or food. Pathway of exposure is mainly through skin, gastrointestinal track, lungs and mucous membrane. Copper poisoning has both acute and chronic effect on human body. Keywords: Copper, exposure, Fatal period and fatal dose, Toxicity, Management etc.

DNA Profiling is a revolutionary method for individual and relationship analysis, crime investigation, hereditary disorders, etc. It is a universal method used to establish accurate results during the process of forensic investigation. DNA profiling techniques, which are based on repetitive sequences within DNA, have proven to be of paramount importance, albeit the complete utilization of knowledge still remaining unexplored. Even a hair strand, blood drop or even skin flakes can be used to identify DNA sequences. It has a wide range of applications both in forensics and law. Because of the advancement in the field of forensics in the past four decades, DNA evidence now stands as one of the most reliable forms of proof in a court of law. In the following article, the authors explore the main concepts of DNA Profiling, and the techniques which are widely used in forensic laboratories such as RFLP, VNTR, STR, AFLP, mtDNA analysis, Y-chromosome analysis and gender typing.   Keywords: ­ DNA, Forensic Science, DNA Profiling, STR, RFLP, CODIS etc