Authors: Schaffer, Michael I.; Wang, Wen-Ling; Irving, John

Source: Journal of Analytical Toxicology, Volume 26, Number 7, October 2002 , pp. 485-488(4)

Publisher: Preston Publications

Abstract:

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of a wash procedure using isopropanol followed by multiple extended phosphate buffer washes as compared with a methanol wash procedure previously reported, a contamination experiment was designed involving the soaking of human head hair in cocaine-contaminated aqueous solutions. Fourteen negative human head hair samples were soaked in a solution of cocaine HCl (1000 ng/mL) at room temperature for 1 h, then rinsed with distilled water and dried at room temperature. Using the extensive wash procedures (15-min isopropanol wash, followed by three 30-min phosphate buffer washes and then two 60-min washes), in no case would any of the samples be reported out as positive at a cut-off of 5 ng cocaine/ 10 mg hair. With the methanol procedure, 8 of the 14 methanol-washed samples exceeded a cut-off of 5 ng/10 mg hair. Extensive washing was shown to be far more effective for removal of external contamination than the methanol wash procedure reported. In all cases, the extensive aqueous wash protocol would allow the differentiation of ingestion versus external contamination, as defined by this soaking experiment. All samples underwent solid-phase extraction and derivatization followed by liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric analysis. Analysis was performed on a triple quadrupole API 2000 PerkinElmer Sciex mass spectrometer (MS) equipped with an atmospheric pressure ionization source via an ion spray interface. The MS operated in the positive CI multiple reaction mode.

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Psychemedics Corporation, 5832 Uplander Way, Culver City, California 90230

Publication date: 2002-10-01

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• The Journal of Analytical Toxicology (JAT), established in 1977 and published 9 times a year, is the international source covering a broad range of clinical, forensic, and industrial laboratory topics regarding the isolation, identification, and quantitation of potentially toxic substances.

  With an emphasis on practical application, JAT articles provide improved and novel techniques for use in clinical, forensic, workplace, sports testing (doping), and other toxicology laboratories. Articles describe newly developed methods in immunoassay testing, gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, atomic absorption spectrometry, solid and liquid phase extraction techniques, and other analytical approaches. Worldwide readership includes toxicologists, pathologists, chemists, clinicians, researchers, and educators working in medical examiner and law enforcement laboratories, hospitals, university and independent analytical laboratories, as well as the drug manufacturing industry.

  Each year in October, we publish a special issue from the Society of Forensic Toxicologists.

  JAT, as determined by ISI Citation Index, is one of the two most referenced international journals in forensic science.

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