Journal Published Online: 01 January 1995
Volume 40, Issue 1

Extraction of Psychotropic Drugs From Human Scalp Hair

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

A comparison of techniques for the extraction of antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs in human scalp hair is described. Human scalp hair was obtained from cadavers known to be taking psychotropic drugs prior to their death. Following a washing step, hair was either solubilized in sodium hydroxide, or treated with dilute hydrochloric acid, methanol or subtilisin. Digests were treated with a solvent and the extracted drugs quantified by high performance liquid chromatography. The alkaline digestion procedure was found to be significantly more effective (P < 0.01) in recovering a range of antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs from hair than either the acidic, methanolic or enzymatic treatments.

Author Information

Couper, FJ
Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology and Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
McIntyre, IM
Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology and Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Drummer, OH
Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology and Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Pages: 4
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: JFS13765J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13765J