Propofol and propofol glucuronide concentrations in hair following medical propofol administration and in forensic death cases

Purpose Propofol is the most preferred drug for general anesthesia as well as for analgosedation. However, the rate of abuse cases has increased in the past decade. Hair analysis is considered as the method of choice to determine chronic drug use, and propofol and propofol glucuronide have already been used to confirm previous propofol administration. However, given its frequent medical use, it is important that nonmedical propofol abuse can be distinguished from medical propofol application.