title: Isomeric amphetamines--a problem for urinalysis?
abstract: Alkyl amphetamine isomers (amphetamine, 1-phenyl-2-butylamine (PBA), methamphetamine, N-methyl-PBA, N,N-dimethylamphetamine, N-ethylamphetamine, N-ethyl-PBA and N,N-diethylamphetamine) were purchased or synthesized and tested by immunoassay and GC/MS for their detectability in urine. Some cross reactivity was observed with PBA, N-methyl-PBA N-ethylamphetamine, and N-ethyl-PBA when analyzed using a series of commercial amphetamine and methamphetamine immunoassays. Chromatographic co-elution problems were observed for the underivatized isomeric group N,N-dimethylamphetamine, N-ethylamphetamine, and N-methyl-PBA under GC/MS conditions used; and their GC/MS spectra were quite similar. Of the potential derivatives, pentafluoropropionyl (PFP) anhydride and heptafluorobutyryl (HFB) anhydride provided adequate separation and easily distinguishable spectra using the electron-impact GC/MS conditions specified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Criminal Justice, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294.
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Kidwell
mesh_terms: D000662:Amphetamines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000652:urine*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007536:Isomerism; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000652:urine*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000662:Amphetamines; D008694:Methamphetamine