The conversion of quaternary ammonium compoundsPQand
DQ into lipophilic and volatile derivatives with sodium borohydridewas
successfully applied to the gas chromatographic–mass
spectrometric analysis of both plasma and urine samples.
GC–MS was found to be specific, sensitive and selective enough
for determining the concentrations to be expected in plasma and
urine in cases of acute intoxication. Compared to the previous
methods using gas chromatography [19,20], the present method