On-Chip HPLC analysis of drugs of abuse - Analysis of cocaine, morphine and their metabolites using an on-chip HPLC system.

Being able to analyse drugs of abuse in blood at a crime scene can save a lot of time and money. Lab-on-a-chip devices could possibly be used to achieve this goal. A microchip based HPLC system coupled to UV-Vis has been used to developed a method for simultaneous measurements of cocaine, benzoylecgonine, morphine and morphine-3ß-D-glucorinide in water. Methods to prepare blood for on-chip analyses are also discussed in this thesis. The research showed concentrations of 12.5 mg/L could be measured, with a high possibility of being able to measure much lower concentrations as well.