An Efficient Screening Method for Detection of Toluene-based Inhalant Abuse in Urine by Gas Chromatography-Nitrogen Phosphorous Detector. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jain, Raka
• Is Part Of: Addictive disorders & their treatment. Volume 14:Number 1(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: inhalant -- hippuric acid -- adolescent -- gas chromatography; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Substance abuse -- Treatment -- Periodicals; 616.86005
• DOI: 10.1097/ADT.0b013e31829bb3d0
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1531-5754

Abstract

Abstract : Background: In recent years, toluene-based inhalant abuse has increased considerably among children and adolescents. The diagnosis of inhalant abuse is difficult as it solely depends on a clinical history and a high index of suspicion. It has created a need to develop a simple and efficient procedure for its estimation. Aims and Objective: This study aimed to develop a simple, efficient procedure for the determination of urinary hippuric acid among toluene-based inhalant users. Methods: Urine sample (1 mL) was mixed with 1 mL of methanol, spiked with hippuric acid, acidified, and heated at 65°C for 45 minutes. The mixture was extracted with chloroform (2 mL) and dried under stream of nitrogen. The residue was reconstituted in 200 μL of chloroform and subjected to a gas chromatography analysis. Results: The retention time for hippuric acid was 3.47 minutes. The within-day and between-day precision data from spiked urine sample as judged from coefficient of variation (<10%) was satisfactory. The limit of detection (at a signal to noise ratio of 3:1) was 1 μg/mL and the limit of quantification (at a signal to noise ratio of 20:1) was found to be 5 μg/mL. The percent recovery was found to be ≥100 at 3 different concentrations. The present method was applied to analyze hippuric acid in 10 urine samples of adolescents who were suspected to be using correction eraser fluid. Of the total samples, 72% showed toluene abuse. Conclusions: The current gas chromatography-nitrogen phosphorous detector method is simple, rapid, sensitive, and was found to be suitable for toluene-based inhalant users.