Routine analysis of barbiturates and some other hypnotic drugs in the blood plasma as an aid to the diagnosis of acute poisoning.

A gas-liquid chromatographic method has been devised whereby both the qualitative and the quantitative analysis of a number of hypnotic drugs in the blood may be accomplished simultaneously. Small (50-mul) plasma aliquots are required. The technique is rapid and will detect 2 mg/l concentrations of these compounds. The barbiturates glutethimide, methaqualone, and meprobamate are the principal drugs covered by the scheme. After overdose the concentrations that occur in man are at, or above, this minimum level of detection.