GHB is a popular drug of abuse that causes dose-dependent euphoric and disinhibitory effects. At higher doses, it has been responsible for multiple acute nonfatal poisoning cases and in more severe cases, death. GHB is well-known for its use in “drink spiking” and drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) because of its colourless and odourless nature; and is found six-times more frequently than flunitrazepam in urine samples associated with DFSA cases. GHB conveys increased analytical challenges compared to other drugs of abuse due to its endogenous nature. It is
rapidly metabolised and excreted in the body, with the detection window in urine limited to 12 hours. Urine samples should be obtained from a sexual assault complainant as soon as possible after an incident, but the delay in collection and the rapid elimination of GHB in the body implies that GHB may not be detected. GHB rapid urine test kits allow for fast and targeted presumptive detection of GHB in urine, anticipatedly used within the detection window to identify whether the user has potentially been spiked. This study assessed the reliability of a colorimetric GHB rapid
test kit for urine, with further confirmation of urine samples using HPLC-UV and GCMS. The results showed that the test kits could not reliably determine GHB concentration in urine samples, but they could reliably detect ascorbic acid presence. The tests were overall regarded as unsatisfactory due to several false-positive results. Confirmation via HPLC-UV was unsuccessful owing to the lack of detection sensitivity and the absence of a strong chromophoric group in GHB. GC-MS successfully confirmed the presence of GHB in its lactone form, GBL. Future work should include
repeated analysis of the urine test kits and of similar test kits that are available. Further study into the optimisation of the extraction method and acidic conversion before instrumental analysis should also occur. Future analysis should also include the stability of GHB in urine when exposed to varying pH, time and temperature as the literature conveys paradoxical conclusions.
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