RAPID, SEMI-AUTOMATED GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC SYSTEM FOR THE QUALITATIVE CONFIRMATION OF SELECTED DRUGS OF ABUSE AND METABOLITES FROM URINE

A silmple semlautomated gas chromatographic system which utilizes a single column for qualitative confirmation of several drugs of abuse and metabolites was developed. The system can be used to determine selected antianxlety agents, CNS stimulants, narcotics, barbiturates, and other sedatives. The drugs and metabolites are extracted from urine by a direct alkaline chloroform extraction method, and the chloroform Is evaporated to dryness. Prior to gas chromatographic analysis, residues are reconstituted in either methanol, ethanol, or ethanol:chloroform (1:1) containing the appropriate Internal standard. The system utilizes a Hewlett-Packard 5840A gas chromatograph (Hewlett-Packard, Avondale, PA 19311) equipped with a flame ionization detector and a 6 foot x 2 mm i.d. glass column packed with 3% SP-2250 DA on 100/120 mesh Supelcoport (Supelco, Incorporated, Bellefonte, PA 16823). Magnetic data cards are used to set the gas chromatographic parameters (e.g., oven, injector, and detector temperatures) for analyses of the particular drug groups. The maximum retention time for the drugs or metabolites is 15 minutes; however, a majority of the drugs or metabolltes are eluted in less than 9 minutes. The method is currently being used to provide qualitative confirmation of positive specimens from 4000 urine drug screens per month. © 1979 Oxford University Press.