Pulverization Is a Crucial Step—A Comparative Study of Different Pretreatments in Hair Drug Testing.

This article focuses on evaluating the effects of pulverization temperature and hair particle size on the efficiency of drug extraction from hair samples in forensic toxicology. Using a "micropulverized extraction" method combined with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, the study analyzed common drugs of abuse, including methamphetamine, morphine, cocaine, and others, across five different pulverization treatments varying in bead type, temperature, and milling conditions. Results indicate that hair particle size has a significantly greater impact on extraction efficiency than pulverization temperature when the temperature is maintained below 30°C, with smaller particle sizes enhancing drug release. The study also suggests that analyte polarity may influence extraction efficiency, though this requires further investigation. The authors recommend pretreatment methods that reduce hair granularity under controlled temperature conditions to improve routine forensic drug testing.