Determination of trichloroethanol at therapeutic and overdose levels in blood and urine by electron capture gas chromatography.

A specific and sensitive gas chromatographic method for the determination of trichloroethanol, the active metabolite of chloral hydrate, in blood and urine is reported. A simple dilution of the sample with an ethanolic solution of internal standard followed by gas chromatography with electron capture detection is described. The method has been used to determine plasma levels after therapeutic dosing with chloral preparations.