Windows of detection of zolpidem in urine and hair: application to two drug facilitated sexual assaults.
A LC-MS/MS method for the detection of zolpidem in hair was developed to detect this drug after a single dose in possible drug facilitated sexual assaults. To determine the window of detection of zolpidem in both urine and hair, three volunteers received a 10 mg dose. Urine specimens were collected each 12 h for 144 h. Hair was sampled 3-5 weeks after exposure. Hair and urine extracts were separated on a Xterra MS C18 column using a gradient of acetonitrile and formate buffer. For each compound, detection was related to two daughter ions. Zolpidem was detected for up to 60 h in urine with peak concentrations obtained at 12 h. A single exposure to zolpidem was detected in hair at concentrations ranging from 1.8 to 9.8 pg/mg. Hair analysis was applied to two possible criminal cases. In the first case, zolpidem tested positive in the corresponding hair segment at 4.4 pg/mg. In the other case, zolpidem was detected in all the segments analyzed, demonstrating likely previous drug use in addition to recent exposure associated with a positive blood result.
Villain
M
M
Institut de Médecine Légale, 11, rue Humann, 67000 Strasbourg, France. marion.villain@netcourrier.com
Chèze
M
M
Tracqui
A
A
Ludes
B
B
Kintz
P
P
D000328:Adult; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D011725:Pyridines / Q000032:analysis*; D011902:Rape; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors; D000077334:Zolpidem
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011725:Pyridines; D000077334:Zolpidem