title: Simultaneous determination of γ-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and its analogues (GBL, 1.4-BD, GVL) in whole blood and urine by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry.
abstract: A simple liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) method has been developed and validated for simultaneous identification and quantification of γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), γ-butyrolactone (GBL), 1.4-butanediol (1.4-BD), and γ-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.
authors.affiliation: Section of Forensic Chemistry, Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederik V´s vej 11, DK-2100 Copenhagen OE, Denmark. SSJ@forensic.ku.dk
authors.forename: Sys Stybe
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Charlotte Norup
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Windberg
mesh_terms: D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D002072:Butylene Glycols / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D056148:Chromatography, Reverse-Phase; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D007783:Lactones / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002072:Butylene Glycols; D007783:Lactones; D012978:Sodium Oxybate; C037556:gamma-valerolactone; D015107:4-Butyrolactone