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Forensic Toxicology

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28-03-2022 | Midazolam | Case Report

Two DFSA cases involving midazolam clarified by the micro-segmental hair analyses

Authors: Duoqi Xu, Jiaojiao Ji, Ping Xiang, Hui Yan, Min Shen

Published in: Forensic Toxicology | Issue 2/2022

Abstract

Purpose

In this study, an analytical procedure to identify trace amounts of drug in hair based on micro-segmental hair analysis was presented. The method also can be used to estimate the time of drug ingestion at daily precision by cutting a single hair into sub-millimeter segments which correspond to daily hair growth.

Methods

A method was established for efficient extraction of midazolam, one of the most frequently detected compound in drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) cases, from each 0.4-mm hair segment and validated by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS). Moreover, two DFSA cases were used to compare the micro-segmental hair analysis with the 1- cm segmental analysis method.

Results

The validation showed a lower limit of quantification of 0.5 pg/mm for midazolam, with intraday and interday accuracies (bias) from − 5.2 to 0.9%. The micro-segmental hair analysis method was applied to proximal 1-cm hair segment including hair bulbs in two DFSA cases. The micro-segmental hair analysis results in case 1 showed midazolam in the S15–S17 (5.6–6.8 mm from hair bulb) in a concentration range from 0.5 to 0.9 pg/mm, and the concentrations of midazolam in all hair micro-segments (0–1 cm from the scalp) in case 2 were from 0.5 to 2.0 pg/mm.

Conclusions

Comparison with the conventional method revealed that micro-segmental hair analysis may enhance the utility of hair drug testing and strengthen probative force in DFSA cases.

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Title: Two DFSA cases involving midazolam clarified by the micro-segmental hair analyses
Authors: Duoqi Xu
Jiaojiao Ji
Ping Xiang
Hui Yan
Min Shen
Publication date: 28-03-2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore
Keyword: Midazolam
Published in: Forensic Toxicology / Issue 2/2022
Print ISSN: 1860-8965
Electronic ISSN: 1860-8973
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-022-00621-1

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Two DFSA cases involving midazolam clarified by the micro-segmental hair analyses

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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