The Analytical Toxicologist

The diversity of the scenarios presented in this article shows how the combination of several existing analysis techniques is required to respond to all the scenarios likely to arise. A versatility, unusual in ＂classical＂ research, is required of laboratories aiming to achieve a level of expertise in the field. The identification criteria are all the more stringent given the sensitive context in which such analyses may be carried out, highlighting the obligation to have: specialized databases, and preferably libraries created internally (the variations observed between different types of devices can in particular make identification by comparison with a reference impossible); a synthesis capacity, to be able to compile the banks recommended above and to produce an ＂authentic＂ standard on demand; experienced operators, capable of exploiting the data at their disposal to carry out an identification, and leads to the handling of highly toxic agents.