Hair analysis for the detection of drug use—is there potential for evasion?

Marrinan, Shanna; Román-Urrestarazu, Andrés; Naughton, Declan P.; Levari, Emerlinda; Collins, John; Chilcott, Robert P.; Bersani, Giuseppe; Corazza, Ornella

doi:10.1002/hup.2587

Cited by 55 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Hair analysis for the assessment of abstinence from drugs of abuse or ethanol has become a routine procedure in forensic toxicological laboratories. However, a major drawback is that cosmetic treatment affects the detectability of deposited xenobiotics which is eventually used for adulteration of analyses . In particular, oxidative hair treatments, such as permanent coloring or bleaching, have been shown to be detrimental, for example for the detection of the ethanol metabolite ethyl glucuronide .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

PTCA (1H‐pyrrole‐2,3,5‐tricarboxylic acid) as a marker for oxidative hair treatment

Petzel‐Witt

Meier

Schubert‐Zsilavecz

et al. 2017

Drug Testing and Analysis

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Hair analysis for the assessment of alcohol or drug abstinence has become a routine procedure in forensic toxicology. Hair coloration leading to loss of incorporated xenobiotics and to false negative results has turned out to be a major problem. Currently only colored extracts provide hints of manipulations but not bleaching. A liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated to determine 1H-pyrrole-2,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (PTCA), a major oxidation product of melanin. PTCA was determined in natural hair samples (n = 21) after treatment with 3% hydrogen peroxide (H O ) for 30 or 40 minutes with concentrations up to 12% for 40 minutes. In another series, 12 natural hair samples were submitted to different coloration procedures (henna, tinting, semi-permanent and permanent dyeing, bleaching) and the changes in PTCA content were determined. A significant increase in the PTCA content was found for both incubation times and increasing H O concentrations. Coloration with henna or tinting had no influence on PTCA levels detected, but a significant increase was observed after semi-permanent and permanent dyeing and bleaching. As PTCA concentrations in natural hair were found to be in a range of <2.1-16.4 ng/mg (8.4 ± 3.8 ng/mg, mean ± SD, n = 33), a cut-off of 20 ng/mg is recommended for the distinction between natural vs. excessively oxidized hair. In case of naturally low melanin content (light-blond or white hair), no marked increase in PTCA may occur. The present study demonstrated that PTCA is formed during oxidative treatment of melanin in hair, which can be used to detect previous hair coloration including oxidation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

PTCA (1H‐pyrrole‐2,3,5‐tricarboxylic acid) as a marker for oxidative hair treatment

Petzel‐Witt

Meier

Schubert‐Zsilavecz

et al. 2017

Drug Testing and Analysis

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“…[6][7][8] Furthermore, in online forums, the "Macujo Method" or the "Jerry G Method" used to remove drugs from the hair by the application of different products are heavily discussed. 9 In a previous study focusing on EtG washout-effects in hair solely related to water, the following was observed: After two hours of incubation EtG concentrations dropped about 20 ± 12% (range: 4%-33%) when washed in chlorinated water, and 24 ± 5% (range: 18%-29%) when washed in deionized water. After 10 hours of washing, about 50% of EtG had disappeared.…”

mentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Methods to manipulate include dyeing, bleaching, shaving, perms, and thermal treatment . Furthermore, in online forums, the “Macujo Method” or the “Jerry G Method” used to remove drugs from the hair by the application of different products are heavily discussed …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detox shampoos for EtG and FAEE in hair – Results from in vitro experiments

Luginbühl

Bekaert

Suesse³

et al. 2019

Drug Testing and Analysis

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The assessment of alcohol consumption behavior in hair is well established in forensic toxicology. The Society of Hair Testing (SoHT) recommends the direct alcohol markers ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) for the detection of past alcohol consumption. In this study, we investigated if detox shampoos which are sold online can have an impact on EtG or FAEE concentrations in hair. According to customer reviews, positive drug testing results could be avoided after long‐term incubation with shampoo under a swimming cap. To evaluate the potential of four detox shampoos, we incubated distal hair samples from three subjects, obtained during a standard haircut, for 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 hours. For EtG, three shampoos performed similar to deionized water. The fourth shampoo showed additional heavy washout effects with a decrease of up to 86% after 2.5 hours. For the apolar FAEE, no washout was observed. Incubation with two shampoos resulted in increases in FAEE concentrations due to FAEE being present as shampoo ingredients. Further investigation of EtG washout in proximal forensic hair samples (n = 9) with the most potent shampoo showed a mean decrease in deionized water of 23% ± 25%, and a decrease by the use of detox shampoo of 73% ± 12%, compared to non‐incubated hair after 8 hours. In conclusion, detox shampoos proved to have the potential to alter EtG and FAEE concentrations in hair during in vitro experiments.

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“…16, 24 Yine aynı ça-lışmada, pigmentasyonun bazı ilaç ve metabolitlerinin (kokain ve metabolitleri olan benzoilekgonin, ekgonin metil ester, benzoilekgonin, norcocaine) kılda kalma süresini etkileyebildiği belirtilmiştir. 16 Sprague dawley türü ratlarda yapılan başka bir ça-lışmada, kıldaki kodein konsantrasyonunun doz ve zaman bağımlı artış gösterdiği rapor edilmiştir.…”

Section: Kilin Pi̇gmentasyonuunclassified

“…Bu nedenle, analiz öncesinde, çevresel maddelere pasif olarak maruz kalma sonucu gelişen yanlış pozitiflikleri önlemek için saçın dekontaminasyonuna ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır. 14,24 Saç numuneleri için dekontaminasyon prosedürleri arasında 1. Metanol, etanol, aseton vb.…”

Section: Yalanci Pozi̇ti̇fli̇kunclassified

Incorporation of Drug and Substances in Hair

Mutlu¹,

Aşıcıoğlu²

2018

Turkiye Klinikleri J Foren Sci Leg Med

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aç, homojen bir yapıya sahip gibi görünse de aslında oldukça karmaşık olan biyolojisi kısmen anlaşılmıştır.1 Memelilerde saç; protein (%65-95), su (%15-35), lipit (%1-9) ve minerallerden (<%1) oluşan deri eklerinden biridir. Saç şaftında korteksi çevreleyen bir kütikül bulunduğu gibi, bazı saç tiplerinde santral medullayı çevreleyen ilave bir kütikülde bulunmaktadır.2 Saç apokrin, sebase ve ter bezleriyle yakın ilişkide olan cildin A An na ah h t ta ar r K Ke e l li i m me e l le er r: : Saç; ilaç; birikim; kötüye kullanım A AB BS S T TR RA AC CT T In recent years hair has become a fundamental biological specimen, alternative to the usual samples blood and urine, for drug testing in the fields of forensic toxicology, clinical toxicology and clinical chemistry. Analytical results of drugs of abuse in hair provide useful information on chronic drug use. They are valuable to presume the history and severity of individual drug abuse and to provide supplementary information on drug use to facilitate interpretation of urine drug analysis. Hair testing has larger detection window. The sample collection is non-invasive. Another advantage of hair samples is that it can be stored at room temperature and do not need to be analyzed quickly after they are collected. Hair analysis is also used for detection of gestational drug exposure, doping control and detection of alcohol abuse. It has been reported that drugs are incorporated into hair by binding to such intracellular components as melanins, lipids, and proteins. It has been proposed that drugs and substances can enter into hair during at least 3 stages: from the blood during hair formation, from sweat and sebum, and from external environment. The aim of this review is to document and discuss the mechanisms of drug or substance accumulation in hair and its influencing factors, application of hair analysis.

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Hair analysis for the detection of drug use—is there potential for evasion?

Abstract: Further research is needed by way of chemical analysis and trial of the adulterant products sold online and their effects as well as the development of more sophisticated hair testing techniques.

Cited by 55 publications

References 48 publications

PTCA (1H‐pyrrole‐2,3,5‐tricarboxylic acid) as a marker for oxidative hair treatment

PTCA (1H‐pyrrole‐2,3,5‐tricarboxylic acid) as a marker for oxidative hair treatment

Detox shampoos for EtG and FAEE in hair – Results from in vitro experiments

Incorporation of Drug and Substances in Hair

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