DETECTION OF TRIAZOLAM IN SKELETAL REMAINS BURIED FOR 4 YEARS

Analyses of the hypnotic triazolam from the remains of two human skele tons buried underground for 4 years were made for purposes of confirma tion. The bone marrow and mummified muscle were digested with 2 M sodi um hydroxide, efficiently extracted using a 3-step solvent extraction procedure, and selectively analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectro metry with the negative ion chemical ionization mode. Estazolam was th e internal standard used. Triazolam was detected in all the samples; t he concentrations were 0.36 ng/g in the bone marrow of one victim, and 0.37 and 5.5 ng/g in the bone marrow and mummified muscle of the othe r victim. This method should prove useful for determination of triazol am in extensively decomposed bodies.