GLC screening and confirmation of barbiturates in post mortem blood specimens

A quantitative gas chromatographic (GC) method for the screening and confirmation of barbiturates in post mortem blood specimens is presented. Barbiturates were extracted from blood samples and the extracts cleaned-up, concentrated, and then analyzed as free drugs on a 10% UCW-982 GC column. Samples screened positive for free barbiturates were methylated to form 1,3-dimethylbarbiturates, which were then chromatographed on a 3% SE-30 column to confirm the barbiturate identity.