Testing for drugs of abuse in saliva and sweat

The detection of marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, PCP, alcohol and nicotine in saliva and sweat is reviewed, with emphasis on forensic applications. The short window of detection and lower levels of drugs present compared to levels found in urine limits the a...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Chromatography B: Biomedical Sciences and Applications 1998-08, Vol.713 (1), p.111-135
Main Authors: Kidwell, David A., Holland, Janel C., Athanaselis, Sotiris
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological Transport
Drug Stability
Drugs of abuse
Forensic Medicine - methods
Humans
Saliva - chemistry
Saliva - metabolism
Specimen Handling
Street Drugs - analysis
Street Drugs - metabolism
Substance Abuse Detection - methods
Sweat - chemistry
Sweat - physiology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The detection of marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, PCP, alcohol and nicotine in saliva and sweat is reviewed, with emphasis on forensic applications. The short window of detection and lower levels of drugs present compared to levels found in urine limits the applications of sweat and saliva screening for drug use determination. However, these matrices may be applicable for use in driving while intoxicated and surveying populations for illicit drug use. Although not an illicit drug, the detection of ethanol is reviewed because of its importance in driving under the influence. Only with alcohol may saliva be used to estimate blood levels and the degree of impairment because of the problems with oral contamination and drug concentrations varying depending upon how the saliva is obtained. The detection of nicotine and cotinine (from smoking tobacco) is also covered because of its use in life insurance screening and surveying for passive exposure.
ISSN:0378-4347
1387-2273
DOI:10.1016/S0378-4347(97)00572-0