title: Determination of cocaine and benzoylecgonine in nails by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry.
abstract: Nails and hair are a biological matrix which can be analyzed to confirm the use of a xenobiotic even several months after intake. Results of nail analysis can be used, for example, as evidence in civil and criminal law cases in which a history of drug use can influence the court's decision. The paper presents results of analysis of a nail sample taken from a man who was suspected of trafficking cocaine. The suspect pleaded guilty to the possession of the drug for his own use because, as he claimed, he was addicted to cocaine. A nail sample was taken. Detection and quantification were carried out using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). The concentration of cocaine in nails was found to be 47 ng/mg, and benzoylecgonine - 14 ng/mg.
authors.affiliation: Marzena Sykutera, Chair of Forensic Medicine, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, M. Curie-Skłodowskiej 9, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Polska, e-mail: marzenasykutera@wp.pl.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sykutera
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piotrowski
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bloch-Bogusławska