Determination of hydroxy metabolites of cocaine from hair samples and comparison with street cocaine samples.

Drugs which are commonly smoked or sniffed (e.g. cocaine), can contaminate hair through smoke or dust; therefore testing for metabolites, especially hydroxy metabolites, is highly recommended.

Interpretation of forensic cases based on empirical data.

Over the course of the last years the importance of hair analysis increased obviously. For example work place testing, driving licence cases, so-called health checks, and especially in criminal acts the analysis of illicit substances is common. With the modern multiplex analytical methods (GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, LC/MS) the routine analytical probe of hair is in general unproblematic.