Abstract: Objective To propose an alternative solid phase extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （SPE-GC-MS） method for the sensitive determination of cathinones in human urine samples, plus methodological verification. Methods Human urine samples were concentrated by solid phase extraction （SPE） sorbent and converted into the corresponding heptafluorobutyric acid anhydride derivatives. Methcathinone, 4-methyl methcathinone and 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylcathinone were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC-MS）. With quantitative analysis by internal standard method, methodological verification was carried out from the aspects of specificity, precision and reco-very rate. Results Methcathinone, 4-methyl methcathinone and 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylcathinone showed good linearly in the range of 25-200 ng/mL of urine （r>0.99）, with the limits of detection 2.0 ng/mL, limit of quantitation 25.0 ng/mL, both intra- and inter-day coefficients of variation lower than 6.0%, and recovery rates of 98.4%-105.7%. Conclusion The proposed SPE-GC-MS procedure has good accuracy and specificity, can meet the need of qualitative and quantitative analysis of cathinones in the urine of drug abusers, and  therefore provide technical support for the detection of cathinone abuse.

Key words: forensic toxicology, solid phase extraction, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, methcathinone, 4-methyl methcathinone, 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylcathinone, urine