Screening test of stimulants in human urine utilizing headspace gas chromatography for field test.

An accurate and simple screening method of stimulants in human urine using headspace gas chromatography utilizing heat of dissolution of potassium carbonate was developed. A 4.9-g portion of potassium carbonate was put into the vial prior to sending to the field, and a 5-ml aliquot of urine, suspected of containing stimulants and internal standard components was pipetted. After the vial was sealed and shaken by hand, 1 ml of its headspace gas was taken by disposable syringe and injected into the gas chromatograph. A compact gas chromatograph device with flame ionization detector and fused silica capillary column was developed for this experiment. Detection limits of methamphetamine and amphetamine were 1.0 micrograms/ml and 1.5 micrograms/ml, respectively.