Use of fluorescamine ("Fluram") to detect amphetamine in urine by thin-layer chromatography.

A “Fluram” (fluorescamine; 4-phenylspiro[furan2(3H)-1 ‘-phthalan]-3,3’-dione) spray reagent will detect as little as 250 ng of amphetamine in an extract of amphetamine-containing urine, after it has been separated by thin-layer chromatography. The fluorescence is stable for about 20 h and can be renewed by respraying. Fluram spray does not interfere with reagent sprays used to detect other drugs of abuse. Amphetamine on the thin-layer plate can be measured by extracting the fluorescent area of silica gel and measuring the fluorescence in a fluorimeter. Recovery of 1.0 ig and 2.0 g of amphetamine averaged 69% and 67%, respectively.