Determination of nanogram amounts of primary aromatic amines and nitro compounds in blood and plasma.

A rapid and highly sensitive method, based on the direct fluorimetric scanning of thin-layer chromatograms, is described for the quantitative determination of flunitrazepam and its main metabolites in human blood or plasma. This method is generally applicable to aromatic nitro compounds that are reducible with tin(II) chloride. In particular, it is possible to determine primary amines in nanogram amounts. Fluorescamine is used as a regent to produce fluorescent derivatives. The method is suitable for pharmacokinetic studies of flunitrazepam and its main metabolites in human blood and plasma.