The past few years have seen a dramatic increase in the abuse of
gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) in
the United States. The abuse stems primarily from their euphoric
and sedative properties, but these substances are also misused by
bodybuilders as steroid alternatives. Recently there has been an
alarming increase in the use of GHB and GBI. in crimes of drugfacilitated
sexual assault. A rapid and sensitive procedure was
developed for the analysis of biofluids containing GHB and GBL.
Two separale aliquots of a biological specimen were spiked with an
alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone internal standard solution.
One of the aliquots was treated with concentrated sulfuric acid for
cyclization of GHB to GBL and the other remained untreated. Both
aliquots were extracted with methylene chloride and concentrated.
Extracts were screened using automated headspace gas
chromatography-flame-ionization detection (GC-FID). Qualitative
findings were quantitated and confirmed in a manner similar to the
GC-FID procedure with some modifications. A calibrated solution
of GHB-d6 (or GBL-d6, when warranted) was added to the aliquots
at a concentration approximating the level determined by the
GC-FI D screen. The extraction was as described with conversion of
GHB to GBL, but analysis was by full-scan gas
chromatography-mass spectrometry (El). Quantitation was
performed by comparison of the area of the molecular ion of the
parent drug (m/z 86) to that of the calibrated deuterated analogue
(m/z 92). This analytical procedure allows for the rapid detection of
GHB and GBL in biofluids. Its sensitivity has proven useful for the
toxicological investigation of cases of drug-facilitated sexual assault.