Segmental hair analysis using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry after a single dose of benzodiazepines.
In China, benzodiazepines are the most frequently observed compounds in cases of drug-facilitated crime. Sensitive, specific, and reproducible methods for the quantitative determination of 18 benzodiazepines in hair have been developed using LC-MS/MS. Fourteen volunteers had ingested a single 1-6mg estazolam tablet. Hair was collected 1 month after administration. All the proximal segments were positive for estazolam. With increased dosage, estazolam can be detected in the 2-4cm segments in some subject's hair. Even some of 4-6cm segments were positive. Hair analysis was applied to two authentic criminal cases. Full-length hair samples collected 5 weeks after the offense were cut into segments of 2cm from the root, analyzed and quantified. The clonazepam concentrations measured in the first two segments for V#1 and V#2 were 15.47 and 11.93pg/mg, respectively. However, both the 4-6cm and the 6-8cm segment of V1# remained positive, while those of V#2 were negative. It needs more substantial guidelines to use segmental hair analysis in drug-facilitated crime.
Xiang
Ping
P
Department of Forensic Toxicology, Institute of Forensic Sciences, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai Key laboratory of Forensic Medicine, China; Department of Forensic & Investigative Science, University of Central Lancashire, UK. xiangping2630@163.com
Sun
Qiran
Q
Shen
Baohua
B
Chen
Peng
P
Liu
Wei
W
Shen
Min
M
D000328:Adult; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D003415:Crime; D005260:Female; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011902:Rape; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D001569:Benzodiazepines