An evaluation of HPLC for the screening and quantitation of benzodiazepines and acetaminophen in post mortem blood.

High performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods have been developed for the analysis of benzodiazepines, some of their metabolites and for acetaminophen in post mortem blood. The methods include a single-step extraction and the use of internal standards for quantitation. Two different columns, mu-Bondapack C18 and mu-Bondapak phenyl with two different mobile phases are described. The methods presented are sensitive, reproducible, relatively selective, and have been used regularly in forensic toxicological analysis.