Nail Analysis in Forensic Toxicology

Abstract

Nail has been sporadically explored as a non-conventional analytical specimen in forensic toxicology during the last half-century but remains underutilized and poorly understood. In this chapter, nail is introduced as one of the non-conventional biological specimens that may be relied upon to answer questions that other specimens may not be capable of doing. A brief synopsis of the anatomy and physiology of the nail follows and the chapter continues with a discussion of the current state of knowledge in the area of nail analysis in forensic and analytical toxicology, before concluding with a discussion of common challenges and further considerations regarding nail as a potentially useful specimen in post-mortem and human performance forensic toxicology cases.