Rapid, sensitive GLC determination of pentobarbital and other barbiturates in serum using nitrogen-specific detector

A GLC method for the analysis of pentobarbital in serum was developed. After extraction from serum, a methyl derivative was prepared and quantitated by nitrogen-specific detection. The method has a senstivity of 0.08 microgram/ml for pentobarbital with only 0.1 ml of serum. Secobarbital was the internal standard. Derivatives of other barbiturates also were prepared.