TY - JOUR

T1 - Simultaneous determination of gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and its analogues (GBL, 1.4-BD, GVL) in whole blood and urine by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

AU - Johansen, Sys Stybe

AU - Windberg, Charlotte Norup

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - A simple liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) method has been developed and validated for simultaneous identification and quantification of ¿-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), ¿-butyrolactone (GBL), 1.4-butanediol (1.4-BD), and ¿-valerolactone (GVL) in whole blood from forensic cases. The sample preparation of whole blood involved protein precipitation by acidic methanol. Urine samples were diluted and evaluated in relation to a control at the cutoff concentration. Hexadeutero GHB (GHB-d(6)) was used as the internal standard. Separation was achieved by reversed-phase chromatography, and detection was by MS-MS in MRM mode. The linear range for all compounds was from 1.0 to 100 mg/kg in whole blood with a limit of quantification of about 1 mg/kg. The method was validated with regards to selectivity, recovery, accuracy and precision, and stability. The method is currently applied to investigations on suspected drug-facilitated sexual assaults, driving under the influence of drugs, and general intoxication with these substances.

AB - A simple liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) method has been developed and validated for simultaneous identification and quantification of ¿-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), ¿-butyrolactone (GBL), 1.4-butanediol (1.4-BD), and ¿-valerolactone (GVL) in whole blood from forensic cases. The sample preparation of whole blood involved protein precipitation by acidic methanol. Urine samples were diluted and evaluated in relation to a control at the cutoff concentration. Hexadeutero GHB (GHB-d(6)) was used as the internal standard. Separation was achieved by reversed-phase chromatography, and detection was by MS-MS in MRM mode. The linear range for all compounds was from 1.0 to 100 mg/kg in whole blood with a limit of quantification of about 1 mg/kg. The method was validated with regards to selectivity, recovery, accuracy and precision, and stability. The method is currently applied to investigations on suspected drug-facilitated sexual assaults, driving under the influence of drugs, and general intoxication with these substances.

KW - 4-Butyrolactone

KW - Butylene Glycols

KW - Chromatography, Liquid

KW - Chromatography, Reverse-Phase

KW - Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

KW - Humans

KW - Lactones

KW - Sodium Oxybate

KW - Tandem Mass Spectrometry

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 21219697

VL - 35

SP - 8

EP - 14

JO - Journal of Analytical Toxicology

JF - Journal of Analytical Toxicology

SN - 0146-4760

IS - 1

ER -