Relationship between methamphetamine use history and segmental hair analysis findings of MA users

• Self-reported methamphetamine use histories (n = 26) were obtained.
• The correlation between methamphetamine use history and its level in hair was shown.
• In qualitative analysis, 69.48% of 1 cm sections revealed a good correlation.
• Ten among 26 subjects showed a good correlation in the quantitative results.
• Hair specificity and sensitivity, and self-report sensitivity on the methamphetamine were high.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between methamphetamine (MA) use history and segmental hair analysis (1 and 3 cm sections) and whole hair analysis results in Korean MA users in rehabilitation programs. Hair samples were collected from 26 Korean MA users. Eleven of the 26 subjects used cannabis with MA and two used cocaine, opiates, and MDMA with MA. Self-reported single dose of MA from the 26 subjects ranged from 0.03 to 0.5 g/one time. Concentrations of MA and its metabolite amphetamine (AP) in hair were determined by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) after derivatization. The method used was well validated.Qualitative analysis from all 1 cm sections (n = 154) revealed a good correlation between positive or negative results for MA in hair and self-reported MA use (69.48%, n = 107). In detail, MA results were positive in 66 hair specimens of MA users who reported administering MA, and MA results were negative in 41 hair specimens of MA users who denied MA administration in the corresponding month. Test results were false-negative in 10.39% (n = 16) of hair specimens and false-positive in 20.13% (n = 31) of hair specimens. In false positive cases, it is considered that after MA cessation it continued to be accumulated in hair still, while in false negative cases, self-reported histories showed a small amount of MA use or MA use 5–7 months previously.In terms of quantitative analysis, the concentrations of MA in 1 and 3 cm long hair segments and in whole hair samples ranged from 1.03 to 184.98 (mean 22.01), 2.26 to 89.33 (mean 18.71), and 0.91 to 124.49 (mean 15.24) ng/mg, respectively. Ten subjects showed a good correlation between MA use and MA concentration in hair. Correlation coefficient (r) of 7 among 10 subjects ranged from 0.71 to 0.98 (mean 0.85). Four subjects showed a low correlation between MA use and MA concentration in hair. Correlation coefficient (r) of 4 subjects ranged from 0.36 to 0.55. Eleven subjects showed a poor correlation between MA use and MA concentration in hair. Correlation between MA use and MA concentration in hair of remaining one subject could not be determined or calculated.In this study, the correlation between accurate MA use histories obtained by psychiatrists and well-trained counselors and MA concentrations in hair was shown. This report provides objective scientific findings that should considerably aid the interpretation of forensic results and of the results of trials related to MA use.