Hair in forensic medicine

Abstract

• Drugs, chemicals, and biological substances are stored in hair where they can be detected and measured. • In hair samplings, the window of drug detection extends to months or even years. • Collection is noninvasive, relatively easy to perform, and in forensic situations it may be achieved under close supervision to prevent adulteration or substitution. • The sample size required for analysis is small and is easily stored at room temperature. • Possible applications of hair analysis include diagnosis of drug abuse, poisoning and doping, evaluation of occupational exposure to toxics, evaluation of prenatal exposure to drugs, and monitoring of a patient's compliance with drug prescription. © 2008 Springer-Verlag.