Determination of cocaine and benzoylecgonine in nails by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry
Nails and hair are a biological matrix which can be analyzed to confirm the use of a xenobiotic even several months after intake. Results of nail analysis can be used, for example, as evidence in civil and criminal law cases in which a history of drug use can influence the court’s decision. The pa...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Termedia Publishing House
2015-02-01
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| Series: | Archives of Forensic Medicine and Criminology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.termedia.pl/Determination-of-cocaine-and-benzoylecgonine-in-nails-by-liquid-chromatography-electrospray-ionization-tandem-mass-spectrometry,82,24542,1,1.html |
| Summary: | Nails and hair are a biological matrix which can be analyzed to confirm the use of a xenobiotic even several months after intake. Results of nail analysis can be used, for example, as evidence in civil and criminal law cases in which a history of drug use can influence the court’s decision.
The paper presents results of analysis of a nail sample taken from a man who was suspected of trafficking cocaine. The suspect pleaded guilty to the possession of the drug for his own use because, as he claimed, he was addicted to cocaine. A nail sample was taken. Detection and quantification were carried out using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). The concentration of cocaine in nails was found to be 47 ng/mg, and benzoylecgonine – 14 ng/mg. |
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| ISSN: | 0324-8267 1689-1716 |