4.5 Article

A validated GC-MS method for ketamine and norketamine in hair and its use in authentic cases

Journal

FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL
Volume 301, Issue -, Pages 447-454

Publisher

ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.04.039

Keywords

Ketamine; Norketamine; Hair; Drugs; MDMA; Amphetamine

Ask authors/readers for more resources

This work has shown that it is a valid method for determining ketamine, norketamine and amphetamines derivates in hair samples of forensic cases. This method was validated meeting the criteria of sensitivity and accuracy for detecting repeated consumption of ketamine in hair samples of forensic interest, according to the proposed cut-off for ketamine of 0.5 ng/mg. The detection of norketamine allowed discriminating between active uses and external contamination. The assessed method was applied for analyzing 1189 hair samples of judicial interest received in the INTCF along 15 months, obtaining 62 positive in ketamine consumption. This means a 5.2% of positivity. Ketamine consumers present a profile of young age (21-30 years old), polydrug use with consumption of synthetic substances preferably MDMA and, then, amphetamine. As consumer is collective, prone to consume new psychoactive substances, requires special attention due to they show a consumer profile with higher prevalence in MDMA than amphetamine, indicating that ketamine consumers belong to a subgroup with a different profile within the INTCF casuistry. The results of the exercises of the proficiency tests performed satisfactorily in all cases. In conclusion, it is a suitable method also to evaluate the chronic consumption of ketamine, in addition to amphetamines in the same method of analysis. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.5
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

No Data Available
No Data Available