André Lajeunesse, Ph.D.

Professor Dept. Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics

Universite du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres

Detection of GHB in human hair using HILIC chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

Forensic sciences sometimes encounter problems in detecting an absorbed substance due to its rapid metabolism which leave limited traces in biological matrices. This is the case for g-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) which is rapidly degraded and only leave a short detection window in blood and urine.

This presentation will highlight the analytical benefits of hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) combined to mass spectrometry for the detection of GHB in human hair. An approach is proposed to use metabolic profiles to discriminate endogenous concentration of GHB, and normalize the corresponding signal in different hair segments.

Biosketch

Since 2012, André Lajeunesse is a professor at the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics at UQTR in Trois-Rivières. He is also heading the forensic chemistry group at this department. He received his Ph.D. in chemistry from the Université de Montréal under the supervision of Professor Sébastien Sauvé and his Masters in Experimental Sciences of Health (INRS / Institut Armand-Frappier) with Professor Christiane Ayotte.

Dr. Lajeunesse, has more than 15 years of experience in chromatography and mass spectrometry. His expertise is applied to different research projects involving forensic toxicology and forensic environmental chemistry. He is currently a regular researcher within the Forensic Research Group at UQTR and at the International Center for Comparative Criminology (CICC).

Date
Date(s) - March 14, 2017
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Emplacement / Location
Morris and Rosalind Goodman Agora