ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 5

Capillary Gas-Liquid Chromatography Separation of Phenethylamines in Amphetamine-Positive Urine Samples
DePace, A
Research scientist, New York State Psychiatric Institute, NY

Verebey, K
Director of toxicology, New York City Department of Health, NY

ElSohly, M
Director, ElSohly Laboratories, Inc., MS

(Received 21 August 1989; accepted 14 December 1989)

Abstract

Good gas chromatography (GC) separation of molecules is essential for clean gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) confirmation of compounds. The trifluoro derivatives of ephedrine (E) and methamphetamine (MA) coelute on dimethyl silicone capillary columns, such as DB-1, which are most commonly used by chromatographers. Methods are described to separate E and MA to aid GC/MS confirmations of methamphetamine, ephedrine, or both E and MA together, whichever may be present in Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA)-analyzed amphetamine-positive urine samples. The use of the heptafluoro derivatives of E and MA on a DB-1 column, or the trifluoro derivatives of E and MA on a DB-17 column, is suggested for good gas chromatographic separation.

Keywords:
toxicology, urine, ephedrine, methamphetamine, immunoassay, chromatographic separation

Paper ID: JFS12979J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12979J
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