Sensitive assay of methadone in plasma by using capillary gas chromatography with photoionization detection

A new gas chromatographic assay for methadone, utilizing a fused-silica capillary column, is presented. Extreme sensitivity was reached, compared to nitrogen-phosphorus and mass spectrometry detection, by employing a photoionization detector. Plasma concentrations of methadone as low as 1 ng/ml can easily be detected and, by further optimization, 0.1 ng/ml was reached. The minimum detectable amount of methadone reaching the detector was 70 fg. The results indicate that the photoionization detector has potential as a tool in drug monitoring.