Advancements in Drug Residue Analysis Techniques in Hair
-
Graphical Abstract
-
Abstract
Compared to other biological samples, hair offers an extended window for drug detection. The pre-treatment process in hair analysis is notably more complex than standard matrices, involving procedures such as sampling, cleaning, hydrolysis, and extraction purification. Techniques employed for drug residue analysis in hair encompass immunoassays, chromatographic methods, gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Owing to their high sensitivity and selectivity, GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS serve as the prevalent methods for drug analysis in hair. Hair analysis can furnish information pertaining to a history of drug addiction or drug toxicity, making it a subject of keen interest in forensic science research. Presently, research related to hair matrix standard materials is rather sparse, predominantly concentrating on prohibited drugs. This article reviews the development over the past few decades in hair drug analysis techniques and related standard materials. By examining the relevant literature, this review presents an overview of the research progress in hair drug analysis techniques and associated reference materials, focusing on their characteristics, pre-treatment processes, analytical methods, applications, and the current state of related reference material research.
-
-