NCJ Number
134468
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 37 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1992) Pages: 328-331
Date Published
1992
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The authors suggest the fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) technique for evaluating chronic drug abuse using human hair.
Abstract
Hair samples for drug screening were collected from the subjects of 40 medical examiner's cases, including 18 postmortem cases. Samples of 30 to 40 strands, weighing at least 50 mg, were cut as close as possible to the scalp on the back of the head. The hair was decontaminated by washing the specimen in 5 mL of ethanol for 15 minutes at 37 degrees Centigrade. The protein matrix of the hair was destroyed by incubation in 3 mL of 1M sodium hydroxide for 1 hour at 100 degrees Centigrade. After neutralization with 3M hydrochloric acid and centrifugation, the homogenate was half diluted with ADx buffer and directly analyzed for positive or negative response to FPIA. Drugs included in the analysis were benzodiazepines, barbiturates, antidepressants, opiates, cocaine, cannabis, and amphetamine. All the positive samples were confirmed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The one false positive detected was caused by interference of a phenothiazine with the antidepressants kit. Results clearly demonstrated the capability of ADx for toxicological screening of human hair. 9 references and 3 tables (Author abstract modified)