Simultaneous detection and quantitation of drugs commonly involved in self-administered overdoses

The system described here is designed for ease of detection and quantitation of tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and other tranquilizers now commonly found in self poisoning. An ether extract of serum is purified by acid transfer, back-extracted into ether, dried, and evaporated. The residue is run on a thin-layer plate against standards and inspected under 254-nm light. Depending on requirements, the amount of unknown may then be estimated or further chromatography performed in a different solvent. Quantitation and further confirmation of identity by staining follow. The equipment needed is very simple and many samples can be handled simultaneously and completed within a working day.