Toxicological Determination of Benzodiazepines in Biological Fluids and Tissues by Flame-Ionization Gas Chromatography

Abstract

A method is presented for the routine determination for toxicological purposes of the common benzodiazepines in biological fluids and tissues. The procedure makes use of flame-ionization gas-liquid chromatography without prior derivatization of the drugs, and it employs prazepam as an internal standard. Diazepam, nordiazepam, flurazepam, desalkylflurazepam, chlordiazepoxide, and oxazepam may be identified and quantitated at concentrations of 0.2 ug/ml or greater. A thin-layer chromatographic technique has been included for the purposes of confirming the identity of the drugs analyzed with this procedure.