A Comprehensive Multi-Analyte Method for Hair Analysis: Substance-Specific Quantification Ranges and Tool for...

Area of Science:

• Forensic Toxicology
• Analytical Chemistry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Accurate quantification of diverse psychoactive substances in hair is crucial for forensic toxicology.
• Existing methods may lack the sensitivity or scope for comprehensive drug profiling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a single-sample workup and analytical measurement for a wide range of analytes, including opioids, stimulants, benzodiazepines, z-drugs, antidepressants, and neuroleptics.
• To establish a method with broad, substance-dependent calibration ranges to accommodate varying drug concentrations in hair.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a two-step extraction protocol for pulverized hair samples.
• Employed liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) with Scheduled MRM™ Algorithm Pro for analysis.
• Implemented strategies like isotope-labeled standards and optimized instrument parameters to avoid saturation and enhance accuracy.

Main Results:

• Successfully quantified a large number of analytes with validated method performance according to international guidelines.
• Achieved low limits of quantification (LLOQs) for most analytes, with ~72% below 5 pg/mg, meeting Society of Hair Testing (SoHT) cut-offs where applicable.
• Developed a task-oriented data evaluation tool for efficient analysis of complex datasets.

Conclusions:

• The established multi-analyte approach is suitable for rapid and robust forensic hair testing.
• The method's wide analyte-specific concentration ranges facilitate diverse applications in drug analysis.
• This comprehensive method enhances the capabilities for detecting and quantifying psychoactive substances in hair samples.