Rapid and simple determination of methamphetamine and amphetamine in blood by simultaneous extraction-derivation

A method capable of extracting and derivatizing methamphetamine (MA) and amphetamine (AM) in blood simultaneously was developed. In this method ethyl acetate, triethylamine and pentafluorobenzyl bromide were added to blood, the extraction and pentafluorobenzyl derivatization of MA and AM were performed simultaneously by heating and stirring on a hot place stirrer. Pentafluorobenzyl derivatives were determined by gas chromatography/chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (GC/CI-MS). Deuterium labeled MA and AM were used as internal standards. This method enabled an accurate and precise quantitative analysis from blood containing MA and AM. Excellent results were obtained for autopsy cases with possible MA.