Problems of Forensic Sciences 2005 Vol. 62 (LXII) 157-165
HAIR AS A COMPLEMENTARY MATERIAL IN DRUG TESTING OF DRIVERS FOR BENZODIAZEPINES
Wojciech LECHOWICZ1, Vanessa BUNKER2
1Institute of Forensic Research, Krakow
2Strathclyde University, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Streszczenie
Apart from blood and urine, experts have been discussing the suitability of other endogenous excretions (e.g. saliva and sweat) or body parts (e.g. hair and nails) as being suitable for the detection of drugs. All these specimens should be regarded as complementary rather than alternative materials. Hair does not seem to be an appropriate material for driver drug testing at road sites or (as the sole basis) for explanation of road accident circumstances. At least two aspects of road safety must be discussed. The first is road site control conducted to test for impairment of psychomotor efficiency mentioned above. Blood, saliva and urine may be used. The second is confirmation of abstinence from drugs. Methods of analysing hair content have been successfully used in forensic medicine for years. It is, for example, possible to verify the abuse of drugs in this matrix. The paper presents a quantitation method for benzodiazepines in hair. Liquid-liquid extraction with diisopropyl ether was used for preconcentration of analytes. The most common benzodiazepines group on the Polish drug market was analysed by this method. Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation was used for hair analysis. Two cases of known history of benzodiazepine ingestion were presented to demonstrate the usefulness of the method.
Słowa kluczowe
DUI; Hair testing; Benzodiazepines.