Simultaneous Determination of GHB and GBL in Beverages

Drug Facilitated Crime (DFC) and Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA) in particular have become threats to partygoers in nightspots in many places.

Prosecution depends on the successful detection of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and its prodrug gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), the substances most commonly used to spike beverages to make the victim defenceless. Metrohm offers a straightforward and fast ion-chromatographic method to determine both substances in a single run.

For the forensic determination of illegally added GHB and GBL in commonly consumed beverages, this method employs direct-injection ion chromatography combined with spectrophotometric detection. In the range of 10 to 200 mg/L, five-point calibration curves for GHB and GBL yield correlation coefficients of 0.9998 and 0.9997, respectively.

Spiking experiments in which GHB and GBL were added to alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic fruit juices showed no matrix effects. The method allows to trace GHB-GBL interconversion, whether in-vivo or in-vitro lactone cleavage or intramolecular GHB esterification, and thus complies with pertinent requirements of law enforcement agencies.