A system for toxicological screening by capillary gas chromatography with use of a drug retention index based on nitrogen-containing reference compounds.

Capillary gas chromatography with nitrogen-specific detection allows rapid screening of numerous drugs of toxicological interest. However, for accurate identification of individual peaks, the system must be well calibrated, e.g., through the use of retention indices (RI). To overcome problems associated with the use of RI's based on homologous series determined with nitrogen-specific detectors, we have developed an RI reference system based on molecular masses and retention times of nitrogen-containing compounds. The standards chosen are easily available in highly purified form and can be detected by the unmodified nitrogen-specific detector. By using temperature programming, we can obtain a linear relationship between the molecular masses of standards and their retention times. Used in conjunction with microcomputer data handling, this screening system is rugged and reliable, operating 22 h per day. In the past two years, we have screened greater than 3000 samples (blood, serum, urine, gastric lavage) without major problems.