Hair Analysis for Drugs of Abuse

Abstract

Hair analysis for drugs of abuse by radioimmunoassay and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is an effective means for identifying drug abusers. Hair can be collected under close supervision without embarrassment and is not subject to evasive maneuvers (false negatives) such as temporary abstention, excessive fluid intake, and substitution or adulteration of specimens. Hair analysis has a wide window of detection ranging from months to years and provides information concerning the severity and pattern of an individual's drug use. Hair analysis is also not subject to evidential false positives, such as those caused by poppy seed ingestion, spiking of drinks or food, and mix-up or contamination of specimens. In part, these problems can be avoided because hair analysis can always be repeated with a newly collected specimen. The results of animal experiments and of various clinical, forensic, and criminal justice applications are described.

Recreational Drug Use: A Major Risk Factor for Gastroschisis?

“…Validation studies using hair analysis have also found large proportions of test positive pregnant women denying the use of cocaine. In a New York hospital study of 397 pregnant women, 32% reported ever use of cocaine whereas 59% of hair sample tests were positive (Kline et al 1997) with samples from self-reported drug free individuals having values exceeding three standard deviations above the mean (Baumgartner et al 1989). In a study comparing self-reported and biochemical measures for tobacco, marijuana and cocaine exposures among women in pregnancy, women with positive biochemical tests were as likely to deny use of tobacco as they were to deny marijuana or cocaine (Markovic et al 2000).…”

“…This method of analysis is now used widely around the world (Karacic et al 2002), (Jurado et al 1996), (Baumgartner et al 1989), (Bourland et al 2000), , (George and Braithwaite, 1997), (Kikura et al 1997), (Uematsu, 1993), (Marsh and Evans, 1994) (Marsh et al 1995), , (Simpson et al 1997), (Nakahara et al 1997 Introduction -Hair Analysis testing of drugs in sport, are reticent about using this approach, and continue to use, primarily, urinary analysis.…”

“…In addition there are a number of evasive techniques and problems associated with urinary analysis that can be overcome by hair analysis (Baumgartner et al 1989). Although technical false positive results can be isolated in urinary analysis, contamination or mix up of specimens are not picked up by validation methods.…”

Prenatal cocaine and other substance exposure: Effects on infant autonomic regulation at 7 months of age

“…Drugs and their metabolites are absorbed into the hair and can be extracted and measured providing a record of use over trimesters (depending on hair length). (see Baumgartner, Hill, & Blahd, 1989). Drugs become detectable in hair about 3 to 4 days after use, a time when cocaine is rendered undetectable by urinalysis and, thus, provide a reliable method for determining chronic use.…”

Conceptual model for maternal behavior among polydrug cocaine-using mothers: The role of postnatal cocaine use and maternal depression.

“…Drugs and their metabolites are absorbed into the hair and can be extracted and measured. As hair grows at an average rate of half an inch per month, it can record a pattern of drug consumption related to the amount and frequency of use (see Baumgartner, Hill, & Blahd, 1989). Thus, a 2-in.…”