NCJ Number
175975
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 43 Issue: 5 Dated: September 1998 Pages: 974-979
Date Published
1998
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This report describes a sensitive and specific gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) method for the isolation and detection of cocaine analytes in fingernail and toenail clippings; it also discusses the possible mechanism of drug entry and incorporation and describes the advantages and disadvantages of nail analysis for drugs of abuse.
Abstract
Fingernail and toenail specimens were obtained from 18 suspected cocaine users. The nails were cut and heated under methanolic reflux; the methanolic extracts were purified by solid-phase extraction. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of nine cocaine analytes. Comparison of conventional postmortem analysis of blood and urine with nail analysis showed a marked increase in the detection of cocaine use by nail analysis. Cocaine analytes were present in 14 subjects (82.3 percent), as determined by nail analysis. Out of these 14 subjects, only 5 (27.7 percent) were positive by conventional postmortem drug analysis. Cocaine and benzoylecgonine were the predominant analytes in all positive nail specimens. Anhydroecgonine methyl ester, ecgonine methyl ester, ecgonine ethyl ester, cocaethylene, norcocaine, and norbenzoylecgonine were detected in a limited number of specimens. The ratio of cocaine to benzoylecgonine ranged from 2- 10:1. These findings suggest that nails may be a useful alternative matrix for the detection of cocaine exposure. 3 tables and 30 references