Determination of methamphetamine in neonatal hair and meconium samples: estimation of fetal drug abuse during pregnancy

Abstract

Determination of methamphetamine (MP) and its metabolite amphetamine (AP) in hair and meconium samples from a neonate was performed to estimate the fetal abuse of MP during pregnancy. Five hundred micrograms of the neonate’s hair spiked with 1-methyl-3-phenylpropylamine (internal standard) were used for the determination. After digestion with 1 M NaOH for 20 min, the resultant was extracted with heptane and the organic layer was evaporated and labeled with 4-(N,N-dimethylaminosulfonyl)-7-fluoro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole. The MP in 10 mg of the neonate’s meconium was determined using the standard addition method. The determination of MP and AP in the hair was performed by a semi-micro-HPLC–peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence method. The hair sample (total length = ca. 3 cm) was divided into two fragments (the root and the tip). The concentrations of MP in the fragments were 1.68 ± 0.18 ng/mg (root) and 1.29 ± 0.03 ng/mg (tip). AP was not found in either of the fragments. The concentrations of MP and AP in meconium, based on measurements performed in triplicate, were 0.27 ± 0.04 ng/mg and 0.16 ± 0.03 ng/mg, respectively. As a result, fetal abuse of MP during the pregnancy was confirmed.