GBL testing/detecting: important questions

[amor999]

Some questions that are very important for SWIM.
Imagine that SWIM was found with a liquid that
is suspected to be GBL, in a country where this
is not allowed.

1) How difficult is to detect that that liquid is
really GBL? (SWIM read that GBL detection is not
easy). It seems that a simple lab was not able
to check it, and it seems that the liquid was
sent to a larger lab inside a famous college.
However, time is passing and results are not coming
in: what does it mean? Aren't they able to test it?
What should SWIM think of what is happening?

2) Provided they are able to detect GBL, would this
be a simple test Yes/No, or can they find how much
GBL (%) is inside the liquid?

3) Provided they are able to detect GBL, are they
able to detect that it is exactly such substance?
I mean: can they distinguish it from GHB? Or is the
result the same for both substances?
(Imagine GBL compared to GHB+water, for example).
If the result is the same for GBL and GHB (non
distinguishable), is the same for other substances also?
(Including non-scheduled substances?)

4) Provided that they can distinguish GBL from GHB,
can they also distinguish NaGHB from GHB?
Or KGHB from GHB?

Thanks
amor999

[MrG]

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/c...TRY=1&SRETRY=0

AbstractA new method for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of -hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) in plasma and urine samples is described. It involves the conversion of GHB to -butyrolactone (GBL), its subsequent headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME), and detection by gas chromatography/positive ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry (GC/PICI-MS), using D6-GBL as internal standard. The assay is linear over a plasma GHB range of 1-100 µg/mL (n = 5, r = 0.999) and a urine GHB range of 5-150 µg/mL (n = 5, r = 0.998). Relative intra- and inter-assay standard deviations, determined for plasma and urine samples at 5 and 50 µg/mL, are all below 5%. The method is simple, specific and reasonably fast. It may be applied for clinical and forensic toxicology as well as for purposes of therapeutic drug monitoring. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Received: 25 October 2000; Accepted: 27 October 2000




The test above is for detecting GHB (or GBL) in bodily fluids. If they were to get a container of liquid that is suspected to be G I doubt it would take too long, for the right lab, to confirm the contents.

As for whether they could tell if it was KGHB or NaGHB, is it not simply a case of looking for remaining potassium or sodium in the solution, considering they convert GHB to GBL for the purposes of this test?

[amor999]

Thanks for your reply.
I understand that you are talking about a so-called GC-MS test, that needs very expensive tools. It seems that simpler tools, such as HPLC, can be used.
However, it should not be so easy.
The results of the analysis are not coming in. Why??
SWIM hopes that the lab is not capable enough to detect it.
Any suggestion will appreciated by SWIM.
Amor999

[Pomzazed]

SWIM has read an easy method somewhere (long time ago, cannot remember where!) in an article that GHB/GBL can be detected and gives a visually-visible purple color.

The method is converting GHB back to GBL by adding acid to testee's urine, then perform a normal ferric hydroxamate test, which will result in purple color complex, and can be further quantitatively detected by using spectrophotometry technique.

[cj.mckay]

There are now testing kits for GBL/GHB available which allow very quick and simple identification of these substances. GBL in any case is a very recognizable solvent as it is clear, it has a distinctive milky, chemical smell and mild skin irritant properties. Add to this the distictive boiling point of 204C and the rather hygroscopic quality.. This combination of properties is not often found in other legitimate products so a trained person could informally identify GBL immediately - the same way they could spot coke or H. In most countries where G- is illegal an informal identification would be enough to get you arrested and detained whilst a sample is analysed.