NCJ Number
221028
Journal
Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal Volume: 40 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2007 Pages: 143-149
Date Published
September 2007
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This study conducted a comparison of two cocaine analyses in hair techniques: solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE)
Abstract
The study results confirm the reliability of the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) technique for the analysis of drugs in hair samples. An additional advantage is the possibility of using a simple, environmentally friendly, highly automated procedure of extraction, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), with comparable results. The relative amount of cocaine found in hair extracted with the two methods, SPME and SFE, was constantly a little bit higher when compared to classic liquid-liquid extraction procedures. Hair analysis is a widely used procedure in drugs-of-abuse testing. In particular, cocaine is well-incorporated in hair matrix and many published studies. The purpose of this study was to consider and compare two relatively new techniques of extraction, which present important advantages when compared to liquid-liquid extraction. Both SPME and SFE techniques reduce the use of solvents, give excellent yields of extraction, and also reduce the time needed for the manipulation of the samples. In addition, the procedures for sample decontamination and extraction of a high number of samples can be fully automated. Figures, table, references