Development of reference materials for amphetamines in hair

Area of Science:

• Forensic Toxicology
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Accurate determination of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) in human hair is crucial for forensic toxicology.
• Standardized reference materials are essential for quality assurance in hair drug analysis.
• Existing methods lack sufficient matrix-matched standards for human hair samples.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate matrix-based reference materials for ATS determination in human hair.
• To establish a standardized method for preparing and characterizing hair standard substances.
• To improve the reliability of ATS quantification in forensic and clinical settings.

Main Methods:

• Human hair samples were immersed in a drug-dimethyl sulfoxide solution to create hair standard substances.
• Six ATS, including amphetamine and methamphetamine, were used. Methamphetamine-D5 served as the internal standard.
• Quantitative analysis was performed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS).

Main Results:

• The concentration range of ATS in the prepared hair standard substances was (1.32–3.29) ng mg⁻¹.
• Homogeneity tests and uncertainty evaluations confirmed the quality of the reference materials.
• The dual-platform method demonstrated excellent sensitivity, accuracy, and specificity.

Conclusions:

• The developed matrix-based reference materials address a critical need in forensic toxicology quality assurance.
• This work provides a solid foundation for producing reference materials conforming to ISO 17034 standards.
• The findings offer an effective framework for enhancing the reliability of workplace drug testing and drug abuse monitoring programs.