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- A fast and reliable method for GHB quantitation in whole blood by GC–MS/MS (TQD) for forensic purposesPublication . Castro, André Lobo; Tarelho, Sónia; Dias, Mário; Reis, Flávio; Teixeira, Helena M.Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB) is an endogenous compound with a story of clinical use since the 1960’s. However, due to its secondary effects, it has become a controlled substance, entering the illicit market. A fully validated, sensitive and reproducible method for the quantification of GHB by methanolic precipitation and GC-MS/MS (TQD) in whole blood is presented. Using 100 µL of whole blood, obtained results included a LOD and LLOQ of 0.1 mg/L and a recovery of 86% in a working range between 0.1 and 100 mg/L. This method is sensitive and specific to detect the presence of GHB in small amounts of whole blood (both ante-mortem or post-mortem), and is, to the authors’ knowledge, the first GC-MS-MS TQD method that uses different precursor ions and product ions for the identification of GHB and GHB-D6 (internal standard). Hence, this method may be especially useful for the study of endogenous values in this biological sample.
- Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid endogenous production and post-mortem behaviour – The importance of different biological matrices, cut-off reference values, sample collection and storage conditionsPublication . Castro, André Lobo; Dias, Mário; Reis, Flávio; Teixeira, Helena M.Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB) is an endogenous compound with a story of clinical use, since the 1960's. However, due to its secondary effects, it has become a controlled substance, entering the illicit market for recreational and “dance club scene” use, muscle enhancement purposes and drug-facilitated sexual assaults. Its endogenous context can bring some difficulties when interpreting, in a forensic context, the analytical values achieved in biological samples. This manuscript reviewed several crucial aspects related to GHB forensic toxicology evaluation, such as its post-mortem behaviour in biological samples; endogenous production values, whether in in vivo and in post-mortem samples; sampling and storage conditions (including stability tests); and cut-off reference values evaluation for different biological samples, such as whole blood, plasma, serum, urine, saliva, bile, vitreous humour and hair. This revision highlights the need of specific sampling care, storage conditions, and cut-off reference values interpretation in different biological samples, essential for proper practical application in forensic toxicology.