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The detection of sedatives in hair and nail samples using tandem LC-MS-MS.

Irving RC, Dickson SJ

Department of Chemistry, The University of Waikato, Knighton Road, Hamilton, New Zealand.

Drug screening methods were developed to detect alprazolam, clobazam, clonazepam, diazepam, midazolam, oxazepam, temazepam, triazolam, zopiclone, and selected metabolites in human hair and nail samples employing liquid-liquid extraction and tandem liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). Hair and nail samples were obtained from patients who had recently discontinued or were currently prescribed one or more of the targeted drugs. Prazepam was used as the internal standard for all compounds. Some components in the hair matrix gave the same transitions as some of the analytes but did not compromise the analyses because their retention times differed from those for the target compounds. The analytical run time was 8-10min. Results of the hair analysis of a DFSA victim are also presented.

Published 2 February 2007 in Forensic Sci Int, 166(1): 58-67.
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