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Testing human hair for cannabis

V Cirimele1, P Kintz, P Mangin

  • 1Institut de Médecine Légale, Strasbourg, France.

Forensic Science International
|January 5, 1995
PubMed
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This study analyzed human hair and pubic hair for cannabinoids (THC and THC-COOH) using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Pubic hair analysis revealed higher cannabinoid concentrations, suggesting its suitability for cannabis use testing.

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Toxicology
  • Analytical Chemistry

Background:

  • Cannabis use detection in biological samples is crucial for forensic and clinical toxicology.
  • Hair analysis offers a window for detecting drug use over extended periods.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To validate the detection of cannabinoids, specifically tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its metabolite THC-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH), in human hair and pubic hair.
  • To compare cannabinoid concentrations between scalp hair and pubic hair samples.

Main Methods:

  • Human hair and pubic hair samples were analyzed for THC and THC-COOH using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS).
  • Sample preparation involved decontamination, dissolution, extraction, and derivatization (PFPA/PFP-OH) prior to analysis.
  • Selected-ion monitoring was employed for sensitive detection of target analytes.

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Main Results:

  • 35% of the 43 hair samples tested positive for cannabinoids.
  • THC concentrations in scalp hair ranged from 0.26 to 2.17 ng/mg (mean 0.74 ng/mg), and THC-COOH from 0.07 to 0.33 ng/mg (mean 0.16 ng/mg).
  • Pubic hair showed higher concentrations: THC from 0.34 to 3.91 ng/mg (mean 1.35 ng/mg) and THC-COOH from 0.07 to 0.83 ng/mg (mean 0.28 ng/mg).

Conclusions:

  • Cannabinoid concentrations, including THC and THC-COOH, can be reliably detected in human hair and pubic hair.
  • Pubic hair generally exhibited higher cannabinoid concentrations compared to scalp hair.
  • Pubic hair may be a more suitable matrix for detecting cannabis use due to potentially higher analyte concentrations.