Hair analysis

Question 1

Morphology of hair

Answer 1

cuticle, cortex, medulla

Question 2

Value of hair evidence

Answer 2

Allows retrospective investigation of chronic and past consumption; Offers the opportunity to examine evidence of drug use over time (within 7 days); Can be used to identity an offender/victim through DNA analysis

Question 3

General procedure for hair analysis

Answer 3

sampling; storage; decontamination; digestion and extraction; instrumental analysis

Question 4

Sampling and Storage

Answer 4

wrapped in foil and kept under dry conditions

Question 5

Decontamination of hair evidence

Answer 5

include an initial organic solvent to remove oils, followed by aqueous washes. The washings should be stored for later analysis

Question 6

Digestion and extraction of drugs from hair

Answer 6

drugs are firmly enclosed in the cell complex of the medulla; hair matrix is digested using alkali, acid and/or enzymatic treatment; drugs are extracted from the digest using organic solvents