Extraction of selected drugs from serum using microwave irradiation

Microwave irradiation is used as an alternative heating method for extraction over more conventional hot plate methods. We describe a fast, efficient method for the determination of selected drugs in human blood/serum using microwave extraction. The microwave extraction of organic substances requires special instrumentation and the results have been compared with the results from classical liquid/liquid extraction. The present microwave extractions were performed in an 'atmospheric pressure' system. Before irradiation with microwaves, an appropriate solvent mixture was added to the buffered specimen. Lidocaine, methadone, diazepam, nordiazepam, propoxyphene and norpropoxyphene were tested as model substances. The quantitation was performed by GC/NPD. The procedure has been applied successfully to a number of forensic cases. The use of microwaves decreases the time of extraction and the solvent consumption.