Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 14, Issue 1 , Pages 7-15 , January 2007

Interpreting the color effect of melanin on cocaine and benzoylecgonine assays for hair analysis: Brown and black samples compared

  • Tom Mieczkowski

      Affiliations

    • Department of Criminology, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, SOC 107, Tampa, FL 33620, United States
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +1 813 974 8281; fax: +1 813 974 2803.
  • ,
  • Michael Kruger

      Affiliations

    • C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, United States

Received 23 June 2005 ,Revised 15 September 2005 ,Accepted 28 September 2005.

References 

  1. Mieczkowski T, Newel R. A statistical examination of hair color as a potential biasing factor in hair analysis. Forensic Sci Int. 2000;107:13–38
  2. Hubbard D, Wilkins D, Rollins D. The incorporation of cocaine and metabolites into hair: effects of dose and hair pigmentation. Drug Metab Dispos. 2000;28(12):1464–1469
  3. Borges C, Roberts J, Wilkins D, Rollins D. Cocaine, benzoylecgonine, amphetamine and n-acetylamphetamine binding to melanin subtypes. J Anal Toxicol. 2003;27:125–134
  4. Stout P, Ruth J. Deposition of [3H]cocaine, [3H]nicotine, and [3H]flunitrazepam in mouse melanosomes after systemic administration. Drug Metabol Dispos. 1999;27(6):731–735
  5. Baumgartner W, Hill V. Hair analysis for organic analytes: methodology, reliability issues, and field studies. In:  Kintz P editors. Drug testing in hair. New York: CRC Press; 1996;p. 223–266
  6. Hoffman BH. Analysis of race effects on drug-test results. J Occup Environ Med. 1999;41:612–614
  7. Mieczkowski T, Kruger M. Analysis of color effects for hair analysis in a large sample: applications of general linear models. Bull Int Assoc Forensic Toxicol. 2001;31(1):9–11
  8. Kelly R, Mieczkowski T, Sweeney S, Bourne J. Hair analysis for drugs of abuse: hair color and race differentials or systematic differences in drug prevalence. Forensic Sci Int. 2000;107:63–86
  9. The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988–94), National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control (NCHS/CDC), Atlanta, GA, October, 1996.
  10. Kidwell D. What does hair analysis for drugs of abuse measure?. SAFS Newsletter. 1996;XXIV(1):9–18
  11. Henderson G, Harkey M, Zhou C, Jones R, Jacob P. Incorporation of isotopically labeled cocaine into human hair: race as a factor. J Anal Toxicol. 1998;22:156–165
  12. Cairns T, Hill V, Schaffer M, Thistle W. Removing and identifying drug contamination in the analysis of human hair. Forensic Sci Int. 2004;145:97–108
  13. Henderson G, Harkey M, Zhou C, Jones R, Jacob P. Incorporation of isotopically labeled cocaine and metabolites into human hair: 1 dose–response relationships. J Anal Toxicol. 1996;20:1–12
  14. Kidwell D. Is hair testing culturally biased and why is this a concern in the U.S.? In Second European Meeting on Hair Analysis, Martigny, Switzerland, June, 1999.

PII: S1353-1131(05)00173-2

doi: 10.1016/j.jcfm.2005.09.004

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 14, Issue 1 , Pages 7-15 , January 2007