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The analysis of methylamphetamine and para-hydroxy-methylamphetamine in post-mortem hair samples using liquid

Dylan Mantinieks1,2, Olaf H Drummer1,2, Jennifer Schumann1,2

  • 1Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Southbank, Victoria, Australia.

Drug Testing and Analysis
|July 1, 2024
PubMed

Insights

This study developed a method to detect methylamphetamine (MA) and its metabolites in hair, finding strong correlations between them. Further research is needed to confirm para-hydroxy-methylamphetamine as a reliable marker for MA use in living individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Toxicology
  • Analytical Chemistry

Background:

  • External contamination poses a challenge in hair analysis for drugs of abuse like methylamphetamine (MA).
  • Lack of guidelines for analyzing MA metabolites complicates interpretation of hair drug tests.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate an analytical method for detecting MA, amphetamine (AMP), and para-hydroxy-methylamphetamine (p-OH-MA) in hair.
  • To present hair concentrations of these compounds in deceased individuals with MA-positive blood tests.
  • To investigate the potential of p-OH-MA as a marker for MA consumption.

Main Methods:

  • Hair samples underwent washing with dichloromethane and water, followed by extraction via methanolic micro-pulverization.
  • Analysis was performed using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) coupled with Mass Spectrometry (MS).
  • The method was validated, establishing lower limits of quantification for MA, AMP, and p-OH-MA.

Main Results:

  • Median hair concentrations were 13 ng/mg for MA, 1.1 ng/mg for AMP, and 0.020 ng/mg for p-OH-MA.
  • Strong positive correlations (r = .7202 to .8641, p < .001) were observed between MA, AMP, and p-OH-MA hair concentrations.
  • Wash/hair ratios suggested external contamination, particularly in soiled hair samples.

Conclusions:

  • The strong correlation between MA and its metabolites in hair suggests similar incorporation pathways.
  • External contamination is a significant factor to consider in hair analysis, especially with soiled samples.
  • Further studies are required to validate p-OH-MA as a potential biomarker for MA consumption in living individuals.
Keywords:
forensic toxicologyhair analysisliquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometrymethylamphetaminepara‐hydroxy‐methylamphetamine

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