Single hair analysis of methamphetamine and amphetamine by solid phase microextraction coupled with in matrix derivatization

Abstract A sensitive method for detection of methamphetamine (MA) and amphetamine (AP) in human hair was developed using solid phase microextraction (SPME) and one-pot derivatization. MA and AP were directly derivatized to N -propoxycarbonyl derivatives in an aqueous solution by propylchloroformate in a one-pot reaction before extraction by SPME. The derivatives were extracted to a coating of SPME from a headspace of the vial. The adsorbed derivatives were thermally desorbed in the injection port of a gas chromatograph. Pentadeuterated MA was used as an internal standard. The absolute recoveries of MA and AP from the spiked hair were 2.80–17.5%, respectively. The calibration curves showed linearity in the range of 0.05–20 ng/0.08 mg/vial for MA and 0.1–20 ng/0.08 mg/vial for AP in hair. Detection limits (S/N = 3) of MA and AP were 0.02 and 0.05 ng/0.08 mg/vial. The coefficients of variation of intraday were 1.04–26.4%. Additionally, this proposed method was applied to segmental analysis in clinical and medico-legal cases of MA intoxication.