Segmental Hair Analysis-Interpretation of the Time of Drug Intake in Two Patients Undergoing Drug Treatment

TY - JOUR

T1 - Segmental Hair Analysis-Interpretation of the Time of Drug Intake in Two Patients Undergoing Drug Treatment

AU - Wang, Xin

AU - Johansen, Sys Stybe

AU - Nielsen, Marie Katrine Klose

AU - Linnet, Kristian

N1 - © 2018 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

PY - 2019/5

Y1 - 2019/5

N2 - The present study involved segmental testing of hair in two clinical cases with known dosage histories. Hair analysis confirmed the first patient's exposure to the prescribed sertraline and citalopram for several months. Citalopram was generally distributed along the hair shaft in accordance with the drug ingestion period. By contrast, "false" positive results were observed for sertraline in distal hair segments, corresponding to a period of no sertraline exposure, which may indicate incorporation from sweat or sebum, which transport the drugs along the hair surface. The second patient received various drugs during her treatment for brain cancer. Metoclopramide, morphine, oxazepam, paracetamol, sumatriptan, tramadol, and zopiclone, which had been part of the therapy, were all detected in the proximal hair segment. The results of these two cases indicated that results-especially concerning the time of drug intake-must be interpreted with caution and allow for the possibility of incorporation from sweat or sebum.

AB - The present study involved segmental testing of hair in two clinical cases with known dosage histories. Hair analysis confirmed the first patient's exposure to the prescribed sertraline and citalopram for several months. Citalopram was generally distributed along the hair shaft in accordance with the drug ingestion period. By contrast, "false" positive results were observed for sertraline in distal hair segments, corresponding to a period of no sertraline exposure, which may indicate incorporation from sweat or sebum, which transport the drugs along the hair surface. The second patient received various drugs during her treatment for brain cancer. Metoclopramide, morphine, oxazepam, paracetamol, sumatriptan, tramadol, and zopiclone, which had been part of the therapy, were all detected in the proximal hair segment. The results of these two cases indicated that results-especially concerning the time of drug intake-must be interpreted with caution and allow for the possibility of incorporation from sweat or sebum.

KW - forensic science

KW - forensic toxicology

KW - hair

KW - retrospective monitoring

KW - segmental analysis

KW - therapy compliance

U2 - 10.1111/1556-4029.13947

DO - 10.1111/1556-4029.13947

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 30380149

SN - 0022-1198

VL - 64

SP - 950

EP - 955

JO - Journal of Forensic Sciences

JF - Journal of Forensic Sciences

IS - 3

ER -