A Review of Methodology for Testing Hair for Cocaine
Journal Title: Journal of Forensic Investigation - Year 2014, Vol 2, Issue 1
Abstract
Cocaine is one of the most commonly abused drugs in the world due to its anesthetic and stimulating effects. Although hair testing is not suitable for the detection of a single usage of cocaine such as in roadside testing, its extended window of detection allows drug monitoring over an extended period of time (months to years) in regular cocaine users. As cocaine and its metabolites are not apparent in hair during or immediately after absorption of the drug, this technique is often used as a complimentary test to blood or urine whose detection window is limited to hours or days. A screening test, usually an immunoassay, is initially performed on the hair and any positive results are validated and quantified with a confirmatory test which is generally chromatographic in nature. The sample preparation of hair is one of debate and constant improvement as the matrix is complicated requiring steps such as decontamination from environmental effects, extraction of the metabolites, and derivatization is necessary for use in sensitive analytical equipment. Different screening tests involving immunoassays, confirmatory tests and sample preparation methods are reviewed showing the current scientific advancements in the field focusing on the last ten years as well as any limitations and potential for future development.
Authors and Affiliations
Shanlin Fu
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP202468
- DOI 10.13188/2330-0396.1000007
- Views 155
- Downloads 0
Gold Coin Crime - A Case Report
Gold is sold in the form of coins, biscuits, bars, jewellery, artwork and watches since gold is one of the precious metals. Its value encourages the criminals to commit crimes like burglary, snatching cheating and even m...
Analysis of Autosomal SNPs in Paraffin-embedded Tissue Samples: Two Cases
Despite the numerous STR loci available for analysis of cases submitted to forensic laboratories, namely with the use of commercial kits that amplify mini - short tandem repeats (STRs), some cases remain “unsolved” i.e....
Commentary on “Complex Variability within the THCA and CBDA Synthase Genes in Cannabis Species”
We read with great interest the 2016 publication by Allen et al. on variation in THCA and CBDA synthase DNA sequences from seized marijuana samples [1]. We wish to comment on the question of designing a molecular assay t...
Genetic Markers for Sex Identification in Forensic DNA Analysis
The ability to determine the sex of an individual based on DNA evidence can be crucial in instances such as identification of victims of mass disaster, missing persons investigations, and sexual assault cases. The Y chro...
Odontometrics: A Useful Method for Gender Determination in Udaipur PopulationTM Identity Panel
Background: Determining gender is one of the most important parameters in forensic identification. Teeth are an excellent material in living and nonliving populations for anthropological, genetic, odontologic and forensi...