Determination of pentazocine and tripelennamine in blood of T's and Blue addicts by gas-liquid chromatography with a nitrogen detector.

A procedure for the quantitative determination of pentazocine (T's) and tripelennamine (Blues) in blood obtained from T's and Blues addicts is described. The underivatized drugs were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography with a nitrogen detector. The retention times relative to mepivicaine (internal standard) on OV-17 at 220 degrees C were: tripelennamine 0.69 and pentazocine 1.77. The linear ranges of blood standards were: tripelennamine, 0.10-1.00 microgram/ml; pentazocine, 0.50-5.0 microgram/ml. For simultaneous analysis, the within-run and between-run CVs of tripelennamine were 5.6% (n = 23) and 13% (n = 12); and for pentazocine 5.2% (n = 23) and 9.9% (n = 12). Mean recoveries over the range of standards were: tripelennamine, 103% +/- 2.5% (n = 12); pentazocine 77.8% +/- 3.6% (n = 12).