Best of the Week: National Forensic Science Week, and Chromatography Is On the Case

This week, ChromatographyOnline.com centered on a special interview series marking National Forensic Science Week, in which experts discuss how chromatography supports forensic work. The six featured pieces cover using UHPLC-MS/MS to help determine time of death, a metabolomics model for estimating the age of bloodstains, an LC-MS/MS method that detects the anesthetic propofol through its breakdown products, the case for paper spray-MS in rapid emergency room drug screening, the growing role of GC×GC in forensic analysis, and the use of GC-MS to find anabolic steroids in e-cigarettes seized from Scottish prisons.

Beyond the forensic series, the newsletter includes two career-focused features. In "Peaks & Pioneers," Isabelle Kohler of VU Amsterdam describes her unexpected move from pharmacy into bioanalysis and observes that the career struggles she sees while coaching PhD students affect people of all genders. In "Women in Chromatography," Kinjal Bhatt and Ina Varfaj share the early lab moments that drew them to analytical science.

Rounding out the issue are two research highlights: a new LC-MS/MS-QTRAP method that identifies rat poisons in forensic cases involving cats, and an LC-HRMS study showing that certain mold toxins (aflatoxin and fumonisins) remain stable during the making of gluten-free pasta.

This is the Best of the Week.

LCGC International National Forensic Science Week Series

To commemorate National Forensic Science Week, ChromatographyOnline.com sat down with leading experts in the field for a special series of interviews exploring the vital role chromatography plays in forensic science. From crime scene evidence to toxicology and beyond, these key opinion leaders share their insights on the latest techniques, challenges, and trends shaping forensic analysis today. Whether you're a seasoned forensic scientist or just curious about how chromatography helps solve cases, this series offers valuable perspectives you won't want to miss.^1-6

Using UHPLC-MS/MS to Help Pinpoint Time of Death

Metabolomics Model Estimates Bloodstain Age

LC-MS/MS Method Detects Propofol via Metabolite

Where LC-MS/MS Meets the ER Clock: The Case for Paper Spray-MS in Acute Drug Toxicity Screening

The Evolving Role of GC×GC in Forensic Analysis

Detecting Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids in E-cigarettes Seized from Scottish Prisons using GC–MS

Peaks & Pioneers: Isabelle Kohler on Life Beyond the Traditional Academic Track

Isabelle Kohler, assistant professor in VU Amsterdam's Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, traces her unplanned path from pharmacy to bioanalysis, and why the same career struggles cut across gender lines in her PhD coaching.⁷

Women in Chromatography: The Draw of Analytical Science

Kinjal Bhatt and Ina Varfaj trace their pull toward analytical science to a saturated chromatography peak and the moment their first chiral peaks separated.⁸

LC-MS/MS Method Detects Rat Poison in Cats

This new liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry- quadrupole ion trap (LC-MS/MS-QTRAP) method identifies rat poisons in cat forensic cases.⁹

LC-HRMS Tracks Mycotoxin Fate in Pasta Making

Liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) finds aflatoxin and fumonisins stay stable in gluten-free pasta.¹⁰

References

1. Nara, A.; Chasse, J. Using UHPLC-MS/MS to Help Pinpoint Time of Death. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/using-uhplc-ms-ms-to-help-pinpoint-time-of-death(accessed 2026-09-24)
2. Nielsen, K.; Chasse, J. Metabolomics Model Estimates Bloodstain Age. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/metabolomics-model-estimates-bloodstain-age (accessed 2026-09-24)
3. Yamaguchi, K.; Chasse, J. LC-MS/MS Method Detects Propofol via Metabolite. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/lc-ms-ms-method-detects-propofol-via-metabolite (accessed 2026-09-24)
4. Abbate, V.; Chasse, J. Where LC-MS/MS Meets the ER Clock: The Case for Paper Spray-MS in Acute Drug Toxicity Screening. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/where-lc-ms-ms-meets-er-clock-t-case-paper-spray-ms-acute-drug-toxicity-screening(accessed 2026-09-24)
5. Macturk, E.; Matheson, A.The Evolving Role of GC×GC in Forensic Analysis. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/the-evolving-role-of-gc-gc-in-forensic-analysis (accessed 2026-09-24)
6. Nisbet, L.; Matheson, A.Detecting Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids in E-cigarettes Seized from Scottish Prisons using GC–MS. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/detecting-anabolic-androgenic-steroids-in-e-cigarettes-seized-from-scottish-prisons-using-gc-ms (accessed 2026-09-24)
7. Kohler, I.; Held, D. Peaks & Pioneers: Isabelle Kohler on Life Beyond the Traditional Academic Track. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/peaks-pioneers-isabelle-kohler-on-life-beyond-the-traditional-academic-track (accessed 2026-09-24)
8. Bhatt, K.; Varfaj, I.; Jones, K.Women in Chromatography: The Draw of Analytical Science. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/women-in-chromatography-the-draw-of-analytical-science (accessed 2026-09-24)
9. Chasse, J. LC-MS/MS Method Detects Rat Poison in Cats. Chromatography Online website.https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/lc-ms-ms-method-detects-rat-poison-cats (accessed 2026-09-24)
10. Chasse, J. LC-HRMS Tracks Mycotoxin Fate in Pasta Making. Chromatography Online website.https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/lc-hrms-tracks-mycotoxin-fate-pasta-making (accessed 2026-09-24)