The rise of fentanyl and its analogs has led to a major public health crisis, making reliable detection methods essential for toxicology labs. Our latest Application Note presents an optimized workflow for analyzing synthetic opioids in hair samples, using the Precellys homogenizer and Bertin’s lysing kit.

A Major Analytical Challenge

Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than morphine, and certain analogs can be up to 10,000 times stronger. Identifying these substances in hair enables toxicologists to trace drug use history over time, particularly in cases of polydrug consumption.

Breakthrough for Toxicology Labs

This study successfully quantified various synthetic opioids, including valerylfentanyl and tetrahydrofuranylfentanyl, in hair samples—a first in forensic toxicology. The ability to reconstruct drug intake patterns provides valuable insights for better risk assessment and prevention.

Read the Application Note