ABSTRACT
Drugs, chemical and biological substances are stored in hair where they can be detected and dosed (Table 23.1).
The hair represents a unique substrate for forensic purposes because the hair shaft is not influenced by changes in the blood chemistry or by exposure to chemicals which occurred after hair formation. Advantages of hair samples also include their easy and non-invasive collection, the small sample size required for analysis and the easy storage at room temperature. The reliability of hair analysis is reduced in cosmetically treated hair where the content of drugs and toxics is decreased.
