and Application to a Forensic Case

A LC/MS/MS application for identification and quantification of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), 1.4-butanediol (1.4-BD) and gamma-valerolactone (GVL) in biological samples from forensic cases is developed. Sample preparation is a simple protein precipitation (whole blood) or dilution (urine). Chromatographic separation is achieved on a Zorbax SB C18 column and detection by a tandem mass spectrometer in MRM mode. The linear range in whole blood is from 0.5 mg/kg to 250 mg/kg for all compounds. The upper limit for the linear range in urine is 250 mg/L or 1000 mg/L depending on the compound. The accuracy is determined to ≥89 % and precision to ≤17 % for all analytes in both matrices. The method is applied in investigations on suspicion of drug rape and/or intoxication with these substances