Nails are a potential alternative matrix to hair for drug analysis in general unknown screenings by liquid-chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

作者：Krumbiegel Franziska^*; Hastedt Martin; Tsokos Michael

来源：Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology, 2014, 10(4): 496-503.

DOI：10.1007/s12024-014-9588-x

• Nail analysis
• Chronic drug intake
• Postmortem samples
• Liquid-chromatography quadrupole time of flight
• Hair analysis
• Alternative matrix

In this study, the usefulness of nail samples instead of hair for a general unknown screening (GUS) for drugs was tested. An alternative matrix for long term detection is still needed in cases where no hair is available for analysis. %26lt;br%26gt;Hair and nail samples from 70 postmortem cases were analyzed by liquid-chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Hair and nail samples were ground by a ball mill and extracted twice for 18 h. Extracts were measured in Auto MS/MS mode (data dependent mode acquisition). %26lt;br%26gt;Only 10 % of the cases showed a disagreement of results in hair and nail analysis where hair samples were tested positive and corresponding nail samples were tested negative in a general unknown screening for drugs. In most of the cases investigated the analysis of the nail clippings and whole nail samples led to results comparable to those obtained from hair analysis. The incorporation of a large number of substances into the nail matrix was proven by the detection of 89 different analytes (e.g. antidepressants, drugs of abuse or antihypertonics) in our tests. %26lt;br%26gt;In cases where the amount of hair available is not sufficient for a general unknown screening for drugs, nails appear to be a useful comparable matrix for the detection of long-term drug consumption due to the comparison of the qualitative GUS results from the hair and nail samples in this study.

• 出版日期2014-12