Ethnic hair care products may increase false positives in hair drug testing

Forensic Sci Int. 2015 Dec:257:160-164. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.07.023. Epub 2015 Jul 17.

Abstract

The question of why different races appear more susceptible to hair contamination by external drugs remains controversial. This research studied susceptibility of head hair to external cocaine and methamphetamine when hair products have been applied. Three different chemical classes of ethnic hair products were applied to Caucasian, Asian, and African hair. Some products increased the methamphetamine and cocaine concentrations in all hair types. A unique finding of this research is that certain ethnic hair products can replace moisture as a diffusion medium, thereby increasing the susceptibility to contamination over 100-fold compared to petroleum-based products.

Keywords: Cocaine; False-positive; Hair; Hair care products; Methamphetamine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cocaine / analysis
  • False Positive Reactions*
  • Forensic Toxicology
  • Hair / chemistry*
  • Hair Preparations / adverse effects*
  • Hair Preparations / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Methamphetamine / analysis
  • Narcotics / analysis*
  • Racial Groups*
  • Substance Abuse Detection*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / diagnosis

Substances

  • Hair Preparations
  • Narcotics
  • Methamphetamine
  • Cocaine