INTRODUCTION

The analysis of blood alcohol components (BAC) in biological matrices is critical to any forensic toxicology laboratory. Ethanol, methanol, ethylene glycol, isopropanol and acetone are volatile organic compounds which must be accurately identified and quantified, especially in legal medical cases in which the compounds are contributing factors to death or criminal investigations. Additionally, blood alcohol level is important due to its measure as a level of intoxication. Drink-driving laws permit any person to operate motor vehicles and heavy machinery whilst under the influence of alcohol. Therefore, it is vital that BAC components are quantified accurately. This application note details how SCION Instruments Gas Chromatography Analyser can be utlised as a Dual Channel Blood Alcohol Analyser.

EXPERIMENTAL

The alcohol volatile organic compound analyser comprised of a SCION 456 GC equipped with a split/splitless injector, a Y split to dual columns and dual FID detectors, as well as the SCION 8400 autosampler. Calibration standards were prepared at a range of 0.01g/dL to 0.4g/dL in blank blood. (Blood had been tested for the presence of BACs; all were negative). Each standard consisted of the volatile organic compounds (ethanol, methanol, ethylene glycol, isopropanol and acetone) with 1-propanol as internal standard.

A blood sample was obtained from a subject that had recently consumed alcohol. 100µL of blood was mixed with 10µL of internal standard. The samples were then diluted to 500µL with Triton X-100 and acetonitrile solution (1.2%:1.8g/dL), centrifuged and 1µL of the supernatant injected into the GC system, onto both columns from the Y split connector. Instrument conditions can be found in Table 1.

RESULTS

Figure 1 shows the chromatogram of a mixture solution containing methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, acetone, ethylene glycol and 1-propanol. Each compound and order of elution were identified based on retention time.

Linearity of the system was tested using a calibration range consisting of five concentrations over a range of 0.01g/dL to 0.4g/dL. Each standard was injected three times. Figure 2 shows the excellent linearity of methanol, with an R² of 1.

This was reflected through the other blood alcohol components, with the R² values being detailed in Table 2.

Table 2 also details the repeatability data for all blood alcohol components at the 0.01g/dL level (n=5), with all components having a %RSD of <1.2%.

Table 2: Repeatability valyes of peak area at 0.01g/dL and linearity (n=5)

The limit of quantification (LOQ) was validated at 0.01g/dL and 0.0005g/dL. A blank sample was analysed to measure the background of the system with a 0.01g/dL standard used for the validation of the LOQ, via signal to noise ratio (S/N). Tables 3a and 3b show the results from the LOQ analysis.

Table 3a. Validation results of LOQ at 0.01g/dL

Table 3b. Validation results of LOQ at 0.0005g/dL

Limit of quantification is excellent on the SCION alcohol analyser with S/N >10 for all BACs at the low level of 0.0005g/dL and S/N >75 at the higher level of 0.01g/dL. These values are well within the quantification limits required for legal cases regarding drink driving even when a zero tolerance policy is implemented.

Figure 3 shows the two chromatograms from the dual channel analyser from a blood sample taken from an individual who had recently consumed alcohol.

Both chromatograms show excellent resolution and peak shape for ethanol and the internal standard, 1- propanol. Using the calibration curves the sample was confidently quantified.

CONCLUSION

The SCION blood alcohol analyser demonstrates excellent sensitivity, repeatability and linearity for the simultaneous identification and quantification of blood alcohol components. The method is highly suitable for routine alcohol analysis in blood samples to provide reliable data with unquestionable confidence of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, acetone and ethylene glycol in biological samples.

Download Application Note: Dual Channel Blood Alcohol Analyser

Download the complete Application Note: Dual Channel Blood Alcohol Analyser

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