A rapid gas chromatographic method for the determination of diazepam and metabolites in body fluids

A rapid method is described for the extraction of diazepam and its metabolites from plasma and urine. The procedure is applicable to subsequent analysis by electron capture gas chromatography, and has been used for the analysis of clinical samples. The detection limit for diazepam is about 0.01 μg/ml, using a 2-ml sample. Quantification of lower levels of benzodiazepines requires a sample clean-up procedure, and the method is not suitable for this purpose.