Use of high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode-array UV detection for the creation of a 600-compound library - Application to forensic toxicology

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described with photodiode array detection for systematic toxicological analysis in human blood and urine, After a single step liquid-liquid extraction using Toxi-Tube A, drugs are analyzed with a multi step gradient (phosphate pH 3.8-acetonitrile) on a Symmetry C-8 5-mu m column (250 mm x 4.6 mm I.D.) (Waters), operated at 30 degrees C. The flow-rate is varied during the run from 1 ml/min to 1.5 ml/min. Full UV spectra are recorded on-line during the 28 min chromatographic run. Enhanced performances for drug detection are obtained with this method due to (a) reduction of peak-tailing for basic drugs, (b) lower identification limits, (c) more stable retention times and (d) larger number of referenced drugs (684 spectrum registered). Application of real samples has been demonstrated.