A class-independent drug screen in forensic toxicology using a photodiode array detector.

A class-independent drug screen, that is suitable for use in clinical and forensic toxicology and uses gradient-elution high-performance liquid chromatography and photodiode array detection, is presented. The assay is capable of detecting and identifying therapeutic and toxic amounts of barbiturates, anti-convulsants, diuretics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sulfonylurea anti-diabetic drugs, theophylline, and analgesic drugs. The assay has been successfully used to screen over 1000 postmortem blood specimens.