title: Validation of an analytical method for nitrous oxide (N2O) laughing gas by headspace gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS): forensic application to a lethal intoxication.
abstract: Drug abuse is a widespread problem affecting both teenagers and adults. Nitrous oxide is becoming increasingly popular as an inhalation drug, causing harmful neurological and hematological effects. Some gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) methods for nitrous oxide measurement have been previously described. The main drawbacks of these methods include a lack of sensitivity for forensic applications; including an inability to quantitatively determine the concentration of gas present. The following study provides a validated method using HS-GC-MS which incorporates hydrogen sulfide as a suitable internal standard allowing the quantification of nitrous oxide. Upon analysis, sample and internal standard have similar retention times and are eluted quickly from the molecular sieve 5Å PLOT capillary column and the Porabond Q column therefore providing rapid data collection whilst preserving well defined peaks. After validation, the method has been applied to a real case of N2O intoxication indicating concentrations in a mono-intoxication.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Toxicology and Chemistry Unit, University Center of Legal Medicine Lausanne - Geneva, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Giuliani
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, CH-9007 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beyer
authors.affiliation: Forensic Toxicology and Chemistry Unit, University Center of Legal Medicine Lausanne - Geneva, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Augsburger
authors.affiliation: Forensic Toxicology and Chemistry Unit, University Center of Legal Medicine Lausanne - Geneva, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland. Electronic address: vincent.varlet@chuv.ch.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Varlet
mesh_terms: D002138:Calibration; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D044707:Forensic Sciences / Q000379:methods*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000032:analysis; D057230:Limit of Detection; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide
keywords: Gas analysis; HS-GC–MS; Inhalation drug abuse; Nitrous oxide