DETECTION OF AMPHETAMINES IN FINGERNAILS - AN ALTERNATIVE TO HAIR ANALYSIS

After external decontamination, the extraction of amphetamine (AP), 3, 4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamin e (MDMA) from hair and fingernails was accomplished via hot alkaline h ydrolysis (1 ml 1 N NaOH, 10 min at 95 degrees C) in the presence of d euterated internal standards, followed by a three-step extraction proc edure. The target drugs were derivatized by propionylation and analyze d by GC/MS operated in the electronic impact mode. Results indicated t hat AP, MDA and MDMA were present in both hair and fingernails. Their concentrations, slightly higher in fingernails than in head hair, were 10.2 and 12.0 ng/mg for AP, 8.0 and 9.7 ng/mg for MDA and 53.4 and 60 .2 ng/mg for MDMA in head hair and in fingernails, respectively.