Hair analysis provides a retrospective record of drug or alcohol use over extended periods, but sample volatility and contamination can compromise data reliability. This study assesses the Genevac EZ-2 centrifugal evaporator for its suitability in evaporating samples containing ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and common drugs of abuse under forensic conditions. Key topics addressed include:
- Centrifugal evaporation for hair sample prep
- Recovery of volatile analytes (e.g., EtG, amphetamine)
- Cross-contamination assessment between sample positions
- Improving analyte recovery and reducing handling errors
Validation experiments confirmed complete absence of cross-contamination between sample positions and excellent recovery of volatile analytes such as amphetamine compared with ambient evaporation. The results demonstrate that controlled centrifugal evaporation supports high-precision toxicological testing by improving analyte recovery and reducing manual handling errors.