NCJ Number
183381
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 44 Issue: 3 Dated: May 1999 Pages: 609-612
Date Published
May 1999
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article examines the detection of cocaine in hair samples using micro-plate enzyme immunoassay.
Abstract
The article describes for the first time the detection of cocaine in human hair using a commercially available micro-plate enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Sample size and incubation time were the major variables in the optimization of the method. In order to validate the procedure, the method was applied to 105 consecutive hair samples routinely received into the laboratory. The samples were simultaneously analyzed by the EIA as well as by a fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) procedure and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The sensitivity of the EIA and FPIA assays were 75 percent and 67.8 percent respectively; specificity 97.4 percent and 80.5 percent respectively; and efficiency 91.4 percent and 77.1 percent respectively. The micro-plate EIA proved to be a valid alternative to other immunoassay screening techniques for detecting cocaine in hair, demonstrating sufficient cross-reactivity with parent cocaine to identify specimens containing cocaine at a level of 1 ng/mg. It showed increased sensitivity, specificity and efficiency over the older technique. Tables, references