Improved qualitative method for establishing flunitrazepam abuse using urine samples and column liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection

The abuse of flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), a potent benzodiazepine-type hypnotic, cannot be established with the widely used immunoassays for urine analysis owing to lack of specificity. A simple method is described which is based on the formation of acridine derivatives and measures the sum of metabolites of flunitrazepam in urine samples using column liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection.