Comparison of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Thin Layer Chromatography for Identification of Amphetamine and Methamphetamine in Human Urine

The use of Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS) including amphetamine and methamphetamine is a critical worldwide problem. The development of simple and convenient analytical methods for the detection of amphetamine and methamphetamine is necessary to determine the abuse of illicit drugs in urine. Many useful methods have been developed for qualification and quantification of substance abuse. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) are applied for detection of drugs and poisons for both biological and non-biological materials. The aim of the present study was to compare the power of HPLC and TLC for the detection of amphetamine and methamphetamine in human urine to suggest an appropriate analytical method considering beneficial aspects of it such as validation, simplicity, sensitivity, applicability and economic cost.

Both HPLC and TLC were used to analyze urine samples of 50 self-reported individuals, whom were referred to Bahar Medical Laboratory and Iranian National Center for Addiction studies.

Screening test showed 22 (amphetamine) and 17 (methamphetamine) percent were false-positive tests in comparison with TLC findings. The results of TLC analysis were consistent with the results from HPLC method.

Based on our results; this study increases the potential validity of TLCas a rapid, inexpensive and simple screening procedure for the detection of amphetamine and methamphetamine in human urine, especially in deprived regions with inexperienced technicians and no advanced laboratory equipment.