Detection of amphetamines in urine using head space-solid phase microextraction and chemical ionization selected ion monitoring

Abstract

An accurate, simple and rapid method for qualitative and quantitative analysis of amphetamine and methamphetamine in urine was developed using head space-solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/chemical ionization selected ion monitoring. A vial containing a urine sample potassium carbonate and pentadeuterated methamphetamine which was used as an internal standard was heated at 80 °C for 20 min. The needle of a solid phase microextraction device was passed through the septum, and the extraction fiber in the needle was exposed for 5 min in the head space of the vial. The needle was removed from the vial and inserted into the injection port of gas chromatograph or gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer. The compounds adsorbed on the fiber were detached by exposing the fiber in the injection port, and analyzed. The proposed method was more than 20 times more sensitive than the conventional head space method.