Detection of amphetamines in fingernails: an alternative to hair analysis.

After external decontamination, the extraction of amphetamine (AP), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) from hair and fingernails was accomplished via hot alkaline hydrolysis (1 ml 1 N NaOH, 10 min at 95 degrees C) in the presence of deuterated internal standards, followed by a three-step extraction procedure. The target drugs were derivatized by propionylation and analyzed by GC/MS operated in the electronic impact mode. Results indicated that AP, MDA and MDMA were present in both hair and fingernails. Their concentrations, slightly higher in fingernails than in head hair, were 10.2 and 12.0 ng/mg for AP, 8.0 and 9.7 ng/mg for MDA and 53.4 and 60.2 ng/mg for MDMA in head hair and in fingernails, respectively.