Cocaine, benzoylecgonine, and ecgonine methyl ester determinations in postmortem urine and blood gas chromatography and capillary gas chromatography after Extrelut extraction

A simple and rapid method for cocaine, benzoylecgonine, and Me ecgonine detn. in postmortem human urine and blood by gas chromatog. and capillary gas chromatog. was described. Elution through Extrelut columns is sufficient to complete the procedure. Protein denaturation with acetonitrile is very important for recovery of cocaine and its metabolites in postmortem blood and allows use of the Extrelut. The procedure could be improved, esp. regarding the instrumental step. Reliable detns. of cocaine, benzoylecgonine, and Me ecgonine could probably be obtained via capillary gas chromatog. with a NP detector using the same capillary column.