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Updated: May 12, 2026
08:38
Extraction and Analysis of Cortisol from Human and Monkey Hair
Published on: January 24, 2014
Hair as an alternative matrix in bioanalysis
Joana Barbosa1, Juliana Faria, Félix Carvalho
1Department of Sciences, Advanced Institute of Health Sciences-North-ISCS-N, CESPU, CRL, 1317, 4585-116 Gandra, PRD, Portugal.
Bioanalysis
|April 18, 2013
Summary
Hair analysis offers a stable, retrospective method for toxicological testing, surpassing traditional samples like urine and blood. This review explores hair
Area of Science:
- Forensic Toxicology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Traditional biological matrices (urine, blood) have limitations in toxicological analysis.
- Hair offers advantages including retrospective drug exposure information and stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the use of hair as an alternative biological matrix in toxicology.
- To discuss hair structure, collection, storage, and analytical methods.
- To highlight the potential and limitations of hair analysis.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on hair structure, drug incorporation mechanisms, and analytical techniques.
- Discussion of various toxicological applications of hair analysis.
- Summarization of representative drug quantification examples in hair.
Main Results:
- Hair analysis provides retrospective drug exposure data and distinguishes between chronic and acute use.
- It is applicable in diverse contexts like workplace drug testing, anti-doping, and monitoring substance abuse.
- Various analytical techniques enable simultaneous drug quantification in hair.
Conclusions:
- Hair is a valuable alternative matrix for toxicological analyses due to its unique advantages.
- Further research and standardized methods can enhance its utility in forensic and clinical toxicology.
- Understanding hair's potential and limitations is crucial for accurate toxicological interpretation.
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