Sensitive gas chromatographic--mass spectrometric screening of acetylated benzodiazepines.
GC-MS screening conditions were developed for 15 low-dosed benzodiazepines, covering alprazolam, flunitrazepam, flurazepam, ketazolam, lorazepam and triazolam, and the corresponding metabolites alpha-hydroxyalprazolam, 4-hydroxyalprazolam; 7-aminoflunitrazepam, desmethylflunitrazepam, 7-aminodesmethylflunitrazepam; hydroxyethylflurazepam, N-desalkylflurazepam; oxazepam and alpha-hydroxytriazolam, respectively. Benzodiazepines are analyzed on a polydimethylsiloxane column in both the scan and the multiple ion monitoring modes using on-column injection to attain maximal sensitivity. The reactive compounds are acetylated with pyridine and acetic anhydride for 20 min. The derivatives are stable for at least 4 days. The relative standard deviation observed with standard compounds at the low nanogram-level ranged from 1.13 to 4.87% within-day and from 1.12 to 4.94% between-day. Unequivocal identification potential, high chromatographic resolution and sensitivity are combined with minimal thermal degradation. The presented screening conditions provide the basis for a unique routine screening method for low-dosed benzodiazepines with a broad polarity range.
Laboratorium voor Toxicologie, Universiteit Gent, Ghent, Belgium.
D
D
Borrey
E
E
Meyer
W
W
Lambert
S
S
Van Calenbergh
C
C
Van Peteghem
A P
AP
De Leenheer
D000107:Acetylation; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000737:chemistry*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D001569:Benzodiazepines