CAUSE OF DEATH ELUCIDATED CODE IN DRUG OVERDOSE CHALLENGE HHS-CAOD-2022-NIDA-0002

Investigators

Abstract

NIDA is launching the “Cause of Death Elucidated (CODE) in Drug Overdose” Challenge to solicit ideas for novel postmortem toxicology screening devices that would improve and accelerate the workflow in suspected drug overdose death investigations. The ideal postmortem toxicology screening devices must be able to detect and identify drugs or metabolites in samples of a decedent’s whole blood and use consumables that are stored at room temperatures. The ideal devices should be able to identify specific drugs under the drug classes of barbiturates, benzodiazepines/sedatives, cannabinoids, dissociatives, cocaine, opioids, and sympathomimetic amines found in the 2021 ANSI/ASB Standard for the Analytical Scope and Sensitivity of Forensic Toxicological Testing of Blood in Medicolegal Death Investigations. The ideas submitted to this Challenge should strive for the best possible combination of performance benefit features to optimize their performance and utility in postmortem toxicology screening. For performance benefit features, an ideal toxicology screening device would: be cost-competitive; the design of an eventual final product should give consideration to having the Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) that does not exceed $25,000. deliver at least semi-quantitative (e.g., ranges of concentrations) results on drug concentrations. The cut off values for blood screen are presented in the 2021 ANSI/ASB Standard for the Analytical Scope and Sensitivity of Forensic Toxicological Testing of Blood in Medicolegal Death Investigations; for example, amphetamine (25 ng/mL), and fentanyl (1 ng/mL). deliver results in less than 60 minutes. be < 50 pounds for use in field conditions (e.g., death scene investigation), capable of operating using a power outlet or a rechargeable battery with > 1 hour life, and capable of operating in environments of 10-35°C and 25-80% relative humidity (RH). When this screening test is performed in the field, transport of biological samples is not needed; however, biological samples may be collected and transported for further toxicology testing.