NCJ Number
174431
Journal
Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal Volume: 30 Issue: 1 Dated: March 1997 Pages: 7-12
Date Published
1997
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A new sampling technique called solid phase microextraction (SPME) was compared with conventional static headspace GC to measure the alcohol in the blood or urine of suspected intoxicated drivers.
Abstract
Aqueous ethanol standards were sampled using a SPME fiber installed in a GC autosampler, modified for automated SPME. Linearity was demonstrated over the range 0 to 500 milligrams per 100 milliliters with excellent precision. Next, blood and urine samples from California drivers were split and analyzed with static headspace and with SPME. The alcohol levels determined with the two techniques were similar; the correlation coefficient between the two sets of values was 0.9946. Findings also indicated that the advantages of SPME over conventional static headspace included relatively compact and less expensive hardware and no trace of sample carryover. The analysis concluded that SPME appears to satisfy all criteria as a practical technique for the determination of alcohol in blood or urine with excellent precision and linearity. Figures, table, and 9 references (Author abstract modified)