NCJ Number
146655
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 39 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1994) Pages: 177-185
Date Published
1994
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The analysis of cocaine base is a major part of the forensic drug chemist's workload, and such analysis can be facilitated by simplifying quantitative methods.
Abstract
Methods currently employed for quantitation cocaine base use either an internal standard or a direct comparison. The gas chromatographic method used by the Drug Enforcement Administration to quantitate cocaine base employs a noncontrolled reference standard and linear transformations. As a result, cocaine base can be quantitated by a single injection of a solution containing the analyte and a noncontrolled reference standard of known concentration. This method minimizes time expenditures, lowers exposure to hazardous solvents, and reduces the expense of procuring difficult to obtain controlled reference standards. The method also limits detector response variations that can occur with multiple injections. 17 references, 3 tables, and 4 figures