Screening of volatile compounds present in human blood using retention indices in gas chromatography

The retention index in gas chromatography was introduced to screen volatile compounds in blood. Sixty-one organic compounds with high volatility were determined using a gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector and a packed column system with 10% OV-17. Porapak P was used as a supplementary column for determining alcohol. Detection limits were determined for several substances. This method was used to analyse blood samples obtained at autopsy from patients suspected of solvent abuse. This approach proved to be superior to conventional gas chromatography in that mixed unknown volatiles in the blood could be identified simply and rapidly.