Fluorescence analysis of p-hydroxymethamphetamine in urine by thin-layer chromatography

A highly-sensitive analytical method for the detection of p-hydroxymethamphetamine (pOHMA) in urine is presented. The proposed method combines liquid-liquid extraction with acetonitrile and solid-phase extraction by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) with oxidation using potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) and sodium hydroxide to detect the fluorophor of pOHMA. The detection limit for pOHMA is 10 ng (n = 3). The analysis of pOHMA in forensic samples is successfully performed, without interference from endogenous fluorophors, yielding concentrations in the appropriate range for methamphetamine abusers.