Simultaneous Detection of GHB, Ketamine and

Flunitrazepam Using Hair Samples

Simultaneous Detection of GHB, Ketamine and

Flunitrazepam Using Hair Samples

Samantha OlsonSamantha Olson

CHEM 4101CHEM 4101

December 13,2010December 13,2010

Samantha OlsonSamantha Olson

CHEM 4101CHEM 4101

December 13,2010December 13,2010

The ProblemThe ProblemI was at a bar one night where it was suspected that a friend of mine was drugged with a “date rape drug.” She made it home safely without an assault, but she did not go to the police until a few days later. I would like to attempt to qualitatively and quantitatively detect three date rape drugs in her system.

I was at a bar one night where it was suspected that a friend of mine was drugged with a “date rape drug.” She made it home safely without an assault, but she did not go to the police until a few days later. I would like to attempt to qualitatively and quantitatively detect three date rape drugs in her system.

The HypothesisThe HypothesisBased on her behavior, I hypothesize that GHB was placed in her drink, the dosage of which is between endogenous and lethal levels.

Based on her behavior, I hypothesize that GHB was placed in her drink, the dosage of which is between endogenous and lethal levels.

The AnalytesThe AnalytesSince I do not know what was put in the drink, three major date rape drugs will be analyzed.Since I do not know what was put in the drink, three major date rape drugs will be analyzed.

N

N

F

O

O2N

flunitrazepam (Rohypnol)

OH

HO

O

GHBO

NH

Cl

ketamine

Effects of these drugs include: drowsiness, loss of consciousness, impaired judgment, impaired motor skills and the inability to remember events that occurred while under the influence. This is why they are used in drug facilitated sexual assault.

Effects of these drugs include: drowsiness, loss of consciousness, impaired judgment, impaired motor skills and the inability to remember events that occurred while under the influence. This is why they are used in drug facilitated sexual assault.

Analyte ComplicationsAnalyte Complications• These drugs are quickly

Metabolized.• Endogenous levels of GHB exist.• It’s usually a low, one time dosage.• Drug facilitated sexual assault

cases are often not reported right away.

• These drugs are quickly Metabolized.

• Endogenous levels of GHB exist.• It’s usually a low, one time dosage.• Drug facilitated sexual assault

cases are often not reported right away. Hair was chosen for sample collection, because drugs linger in the hair much longer than blood and urine and endogenous levels of GHB can be detected by analyzing several segments of the hair.

Hair was chosen for sample collection, because drugs linger in the hair much longer than blood and urine and endogenous levels of GHB can be detected by analyzing several segments of the hair.

Techniques ConsideredTechniques ConsideredMethod Advantages Disadvantages

FTIRFast Runs, fairly inexpensive

Need extensive separation technique, overlap in simultaneous measurements, poor for quantification

MEKC

Good LODs : 50pg/mL - 1.8µg/mL, faster run times (15 mins), good resolution

Different pH’s are preferred for the different analytes, UV detection is poor with GHB

GC-MS

Good LOD (pg-ng), instruments currently used in labs, good separation

Derivitization must be done to increase volatility

FluorescenceMore sensitive than UV-vis, fast detection

Drugs must be derivatized ($), and different derivatives are ideal for different drugs

Method Chosen: HPLC/MS/MS

• There is less sample preparation• Quantification and Identification are achieved

simultaneously.• The reproducibility is good.• The limit of detection is good.• These instruments are already used in many

labs, so it’s cost effective.

• There is less sample preparation• Quantification and Identification are achieved

simultaneously.• The reproducibility is good.• The limit of detection is good.• These instruments are already used in many

labs, so it’s cost effective.

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Specific HPLC and MS/MS Instruments

Specific HPLC and MS/MS Instruments

Agilent 1220 Infinity LC System

• Very affordable• Autosampler provides

more accurate injections• Common brand used

throughout labs• An Agilent ZORBAX Rx-

C18 Column is adequate for this analysis

Agilent 1220 Infinity LC System

• Very affordable• Autosampler provides

more accurate injections• Common brand used

throughout labs• An Agilent ZORBAX Rx-

C18 Column is adequate for this analysis

Agilent 6500 Series Accurate-Mass Q-TOF LC/MS

• 2-4ppm mass accuracy (eliminate false positives)

• Femtomole sensitivity

• In-spectrum dynamic range of up to 5 orders of magnitude

Agilent 6500 Series Accurate-Mass Q-TOF LC/MS

• 2-4ppm mass accuracy (eliminate false positives)

• Femtomole sensitivity

• In-spectrum dynamic range of up to 5 orders of magnitude

Sample PreparationSample Preparation• 4-5 Weeks after being drugged, hair samples

taken from the vertex posterior (back of the head)

• Cut hair strands into 2 cm segments and place in separate containers

• Decontaminate• Cut into small pieces and incubate roughly 20

mg overnight in phosphate buffer (pH 7) in presence of diazepam-d5 (internal standard)

• Extract with methylene chloride/diethyl ether (90/10 v/v)

• Inject sample

• 4-5 Weeks after being drugged, hair samples taken from the vertex posterior (back of the head)

• Cut hair strands into 2 cm segments and place in separate containers

• Decontaminate• Cut into small pieces and incubate roughly 20

mg overnight in phosphate buffer (pH 7) in presence of diazepam-d5 (internal standard)

• Extract with methylene chloride/diethyl ether (90/10 v/v)

• Inject sample

Results

• These MS spectrums can help to chose which parent ions may be chosen

• These MS spectrums can help to chose which parent ions may be chosen

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QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

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QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

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GHBketamine

flunitrazepam

The LOD using similar techniques and separate elution gave samples is 0.5 ng/mg, 0.1 ng/mg and 0.2 ng/mg for GHB, ketamine and flunitrazepam

respectfully. I assume these values will be similar to the simultaneous determination of all drug

concentrations.

The LOD using similar techniques and separate elution gave samples is 0.5 ng/mg, 0.1 ng/mg and 0.2 ng/mg for GHB, ketamine and flunitrazepam

respectfully. I assume these values will be similar to the simultaneous determination of all drug

concentrations.

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ConclusionsConclusions

• Hair samples were chosen due to the longer retention of drugs and the ability to determine endogenous GHB

• HPLC/MS/MS can be used to separate, identify and quantify all three analytes.

• Instrumentation was chosen for its affordability, accuracy and its ability to solve the problem.

• Seeing as victims of DFSA don’t always come forward in the time allotted for traditional sample analysis (i.e.: urine), this technique would be useful to prove that date rape drugs were consumed.

• Hair samples were chosen due to the longer retention of drugs and the ability to determine endogenous GHB

• HPLC/MS/MS can be used to separate, identify and quantify all three analytes.

• Instrumentation was chosen for its affordability, accuracy and its ability to solve the problem.

• Seeing as victims of DFSA don’t always come forward in the time allotted for traditional sample analysis (i.e.: urine), this technique would be useful to prove that date rape drugs were consumed.

ReferencesAgilent 1220 Infinity LC: Infinitely More Affordable. Agilent Technologies, 1 July 2010. Web.

<http://www.chem.agilent.com/Library/brochures/5990-5060EN.pdf>.

Agilent 6200 Series TOF and 6500 Series Q-TOF LC/MS System. Agilent Technologies, 1 July 2010. Web. <http://www.chem.agilent.com/Library/usermanuals/Public/G3335-90028_TOF_Q-TOF_Concepts.pdf>.

Cheng, Pai-Sheng, Chien-Yu Fu, Choung-Huei Lee, Chiareiy Liu, and Chun-Sheng Chien. "GC ﾐMS Quantification of Ketamine, Norketamine, and Dehydronorketamine in Urine Specimens and Comparative Study Using ELISA as the Preliminary Test Methodology." Journal of Chromatography B 852.1-2 (2007): 443-49. Print.

Hsin-Yu, Bai. "Characterization and Evaluation of Two-Dimensional Microfluidic Chip-HPLC Coupled to Tandem Mass Spectrometry for the Quantitative Analysis of 7-aminoflunitrazepam in Human Urine." Analyst 135 (2010): 2737-742. Web.

Kintz, Pascal, Marion Villain, and Vincent Cirimele. "Chemical Abuse in the Elderly: Evidence From Hair Analysis." Ther Drug Monit 30.2 (2008): 207-11.

Maxwell, James Carlisle. "Party Drugs: Properties, Prevalence, Patterns and Problems." Substance Use & Misuse 40 (2005): 1203-240. Print