Skip to main content
Log in

Detection of amphetamines in fingernails: an alternative to hair analysis

  • Letter to the Editors
  • Published:
Archives of Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

After external decontamination, the extraction of amphetamine (AP), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDMA) from hair and fingernails was accomplished via hot alkaline hydrolysis (1 ml 1 N NaOH, 10 min at 95°C) in the presence of deuterated internal standards, followed by a three-step extraction procedure. The target drugs were derivatized by propionylation and analyzed by GC/MS operated in the electronic impact mode. Results indicated that AP, MDA and MDMA were present in both hair and fingernails. Their concentrations, slightly higher in fingernails than in head hair, were 10.2 and 12.0 ng/mg for AP, 8.0 and 9.7 ng/mg for MDA and 53.4 and 60.2 ng/mg for MDMA in head hair and in fingernails, respectively.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  • Baumgartner WA, Hill VA, Blahd WH (1989) Hair analysis for drugs of abuse. J Forens Sci 34: 1433–1453

    Google Scholar 

  • Kintz P, Cirimele V, Tracqui A, Mangin P (1995) Simultaneous determination of amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylene-dioxyamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine in human hair by GC/MS. J Chromatogr Biomed Appl (in press)

  • Mieczkowski T, Newel N (1993) Comparing hair and urine assays for cocaine and marijuana. Fed Proc 67: 59–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller M, Martz R, Donnelly B (1994) Drugs in keratin samples from hair, fingernails and toenails. In Second International Meeting on Clinical and Forensic Aspect of Hair Analysis [Abstract], Genoa, Italy, June 6–8, p 39

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cirimele, V., Kintz, P. & Mangin, P. Detection of amphetamines in fingernails: an alternative to hair analysis. Arch Toxicol 70, 68–69 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03035462

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03035462

Key words

Navigation