title: Sample preparation methods for determination of drugs of abuse in hair samples: A review.
abstract: Hair analysis has assumed increasing importance in the determination of substances of abuse, both in clinical and forensic toxicology investigations. Hair analysis offers particular advantages over other biological matrices (blood and urine), including a larger window of detection, ease of collection and sample stability. In the present work, an overview of sample preparation techniques for the determination of substances of abuse in hair is provided, specifically regarding the principal steps in hair sample treatment-decontamination, extraction and purification. For this purpose, a survey of publications found in the MEDLINE database from 2000 to date was conducted. The most widely consumed substances of abuse and psychotropic drugs were considered. Trends in simplification of hair sample preparation, washing procedures and cleanup methods are discussed. Alternative sample extraction techniques, such as head-space solid phase microextraction (HS-SPDE), supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) are also reported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiological Toracic and Vascular Sciences, University Hopsital, University of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, I-35121 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vogliardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiological Toracic and Vascular Sciences, University Hopsital, University of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, I-35121 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tucci
authors.affiliation: Forensic Toxicology and Antidoping, University Hospital, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stocchero
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiological Toracic and Vascular Sciences, University Hopsital, University of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, I-35121 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Santo Davide
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiological Toracic and Vascular Sciences, University Hopsital, University of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, I-35121 Padova, Italy. Electronic address: donata.favretto@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Donata
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Favretto
mesh_terms: D000097:Acetonitriles / Q000737:chemistry; D002021:Buffers; D053593:Forensic Toxicology / Q000379:methods*; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis*; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D008872:Microwaves; D054802:Molecular Imprinting; D052617:Solid Phase Microextraction / Q000379:methods; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*; D013864:Thioglycolates / Q000737:chemistry; D014508:Urea / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000097:Acetonitriles; D002021:Buffers; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D012997:Solvents; D013864:Thioglycolates; D014508:Urea; D000432:Methanol; C032159:acetonitrile