Combined use of fused silica capillary columns and nitrogen-phosphorus detection for the toxicological analysis of illicit heroin samples.

Capillary GC is applied to the toxicological analysis of illicit heroin samples. The combined use of a permanently deactivated fused silica capillary column, and a nitrogen-phosphorus detector (NPD), allows the separation and determination of nanogram amounts of underivatised opiates, using a direct injection technique.