Rapid drug screening using Toxi-Lab extraction followed by capillary gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy

We report here a method of analyzing drugs in body fluids by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) without the necessity for derivatization. Specimens (urine and serum) were extracted one time using Toxi-Lab extraction tubes. The organic extract was evaporated to dryness, taken up in methanol, and injected directly onto a Hewlett-Packard 5995B GC/MS equipped with a 20-m, 5% phenylmethylsilicone capillary column. Most drugs of clinical interest eluted in 1-10 min and were identified by their mass spectra. Amphetamines were readily distinguished from other sympathomimetic amines; cocaine and its principal metabolite ecgonine methyl ester were readily detected without derivatization. We conclude that the combination of Toxi-Lab extraction and capillary GC/MS analysis provided a rapid, versatile, and efficient method for screening and/or confirming the presence of drugs in biological specimens.