The quantitative detection of the abuse of Gamma-Hydroxy-Butyric Acid (GHB) also known as liquid Ecstasy or K.O. drops is still a challenge in Toxicology.

To date, GHB is not detected by routine blood or urine drug screens. Its detection is virtually only possible with chromatographic methods. These methods are time-consuming and laborious since they often require derivatization of the drug and/or sample extraction. Therefore many cases involving GHB may be missed in hospitals and forensic institutes.

This situation causes a permanent under-estimation of the amount of this kind of severe intoxications or the inappropriate care of victims. Clearly, there is a requirement for simple and rapid analytical procedures to meet current increased demand for analysis.

The BÜHLMANN enzymatic GHB assay will allow a direct, quick and easy quantification of exogenous intake of GHB.

Principle of the Assay

GHB is converted to its metabolite by the action of GHB-specific recombinant enzyme and oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). The increase in absorbance at 340 nm resulting from the reduction of NAD+ into NADH is proportional to the amount of GHB in the sample. The enzymatic GHB assay is a three reagent test which can be applied on every clinical chemistry analyzer allowing these settings.

First evaluations showed comparable sensitivity and a very high correlation to the well established but laborious chromatographic methods.

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