Headspace solid-phase microextraction procedures for gas chromatographic analysis of biological fluids and materials

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is a new solventless sample preparation technique that is finding wide usage. This review provides updated informat ion on headspace SPME with gas chromatographic separation for the extractio n and measurement of volatile and semivolatile analytes in biological fluid s and materials. Firstly the background to the technique is given in terms of apparatus, fibres used, extraction conditions and derivatisation procedu res. Then the different matrices, urine, blood, faeces, breast milk, hair, breath and saliva are considered separately. For each, methods appropriate for the analysis of drugs and metabolites, solvents and chemicals, anaesthe tics, pesticides, organometallics and endogenous compounds are reviewed and the main experimental conditions outlined with specific examples. Then fin ally, the future potential of SPME for the analysis of biological samples i n terms of the development of new devices and fibre chemistries and its cou pling with high-performance liquid chromatography is discussed. (C) 2000 El sevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.