Cocaine analytes in human hair: Evaluation of concentration ratios in different cocaine sources, drug-user populations and surface-contaminated specimens

42Citations
Citations of this article
58Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

Hair specimens were analyzed for cocaine (COC), benzoylecgonine (BE), cocaethylene (CE) and norcocaine (NCOC) by liquid chroma-tography-tandem mass spectrometry. Drug-free hair was contaminated in vitro with COC from different sources with varied COC analyte concentrations. Results were compared to COC analyte concentrations in drug users' hair following self-reported COC use (Street) and in hair from participants in controlled COC administration studies (Clinical) on a closed clinical research unit. Mean ± standard error analyte concentrations in Street drug users' hair were COC 27,889 ± 7,846 (n = 38); BE 8,132 ± 2,523 (n = 38); CE 901 ± 320 (n = 20); NCOC 345 ± 72 pg/mg (n = 32). Mean percentages to COC concentration were BE 29%, CE 3% and NCOC 1%. Concentrations in hair were lower for Clinical participants. COC contamination with higher CE, BE or NCOC content produced significantly higher concentrations (P = 0.0001) of all analytes. CE/COC and NCOC/COC ratios did not improve differentiation of COC use from COC contamination. COC concentrations in illicit and pharmaceutical COC affect concentrations in contaminated hair. Criteria for distinguishing COC use from contamination under realistic concentrations were not significantly improved by adding CE and NCOC criteria to COC cutoff concentration and BE/COC ratio criteria. Current criteria for COC hair testing in many forensic drug-testing laboratories may not effectively discriminate between COC use and environmental COC exposure. © The Author [2012]. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.

References Powered by Scopus

Testing human hair for drugs of abuse. II. Identification of unique cocaine metabolites in hair of drug abusers and evaluation of decontamination procedures

168Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Tracing the geographical origin of cocaine: Cocaine carries a chemical fingerprint from the region where the coca was grown

158Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Simultaneous screening and quantification of 52 common pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse in hair using UPLC-TOF-MS

135Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Cited by Powered by Scopus

Objective Testing: Urine and Other Drug Tests

122Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Recent trends in analytical methods and separation techniques for drugs of abuse in hair

102Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Nail analysis for the detection of drugs of abuse and pharmaceuticals: a review

68Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Ropero-Miller, J. D., Huestis, M. A., & Stout, P. R. (2012). Cocaine analytes in human hair: Evaluation of concentration ratios in different cocaine sources, drug-user populations and surface-contaminated specimens. Journal of Analytical Toxicology, 36(6), 390–398. https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bks050

Readers over time

‘13‘14‘15‘16‘17‘18‘19‘20‘21‘22‘23‘24‘25036912

Readers' Seniority

Tooltip

PhD / Post grad / Masters / Doc 16

46%

Researcher 11

31%

Professor / Associate Prof. 6

17%

Lecturer / Post doc 2

6%

Readers' Discipline

Tooltip

Chemistry 16

50%

Medicine and Dentistry 7

22%

Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceut... 6

19%

Psychology 3

9%

Article Metrics

Tooltip
Social Media
Shares, Likes & Comments: 51

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free
0