Forensic Lab Talks

About This Series

The Journal of Forensic Sciences (JFS) of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) has joined forces with Wiley to present a series of virtual educational seminars for forensic scientists. 

The series will cover a range of topics important to this community highlighting the most recent methods and best practices in areas such as forensic chemistry (covering spectroscopy, microscopy, and other techniques), toxicology, trace evidence, DNA analysis, and many more.

Please Note: Previous Forensic Lab Talks participants must register below to attend this Virtual Seminar.

In this webinar, Dr. Krotulski presents a comprehensive LC–MS workflow for the analysis of kratom and its alkaloids using the SCIEX X500R QTOF system. The session highlights a high-resolution approach that enables both qualitative identification and quantitative measurement on a single platform, addressing the need for reliable and efficient detection of kratom-related compounds across forensic and clinical settings.

The method leverages the accurate mass and SWATH® acquisition capabilities of QTOF technology to characterize key kratom alkaloids in complex matrices. Dr. Krotulski will discuss his approach to blood analysis, including sample preparation, acquisition strategies, and data interpretation for confident compound identification and measurement. The same workflow is also applied to commercially available smoke shop products, demonstrating how the method can be used to evaluate product variability and composition.

A key component of the workflow is the use of defined cutoff thresholds to support reporting, enabling laboratories to apply consistent decision criteria while maintaining analytical rigor. By combining screening and quantitation capabilities on a single SCIEX X500R system, this approach offers flexibility and operational efficiency without requiring multiple platforms.

Attendees will gain practical insight into implementing LC–MS QTOF-based kratom analysis, with a focus on improving confidence in results and adapting to evolving testing demands in toxicology and drug monitoring.

Key Learnings:

• Learn how to combine high‑confidence screening and quantitation of kratom alkaloids on a single QTOF platform, improving lab efficiency and throughput.
• Understand sample prep, acquisition (SWATH®), and data interpretation strategies for blood and consumer products.
• Discover how accurate mass and defined reporting thresholds support robust, defensible forensic and clinical decisions.
• Ideal for forensic toxicologists, clinical researchers, and lab managers seeking flexible, future‑proof LC–MS workflows for emerging drugs.

*A Certificate of Attendance will be sent to participants who attend the FLT #11 virtual seminar live*

The opinions expressed in this seminar are those of the presenter and do not reflect the opinions of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) or its members.