Authors: Coles, Rebecka¹; Kushnir, Mark M.¹; Nelson, Gordon J.²; McMillin, Gwendolyn A.³; Urry, Francis M.³

Source: Journal of Analytical Toxicology, Volume 31, Number 1, January/February 2007 , pp. 1-14(14)

Publisher: Preston Publications

Abstract:

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) method for simultaneous analysis of six major opiates in urine, serum, plasma, whole blood, and meconium is described. The six opiates included are codeine, morphine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone, and 6-acetylmorphine (6-AM). The method was compared to an in-house gas chromatography (GC)-MS method and an LC-MS-MS method performed by another laboratory. The sample preparation time was decreased by eliminating the glucuronide hydrolysis and derivatization required for GC-MS analysis, as well as by adapting the solid-phase extraction to elute directly into autosampler vials. These improvements illustrate the advantages of an LC-MS-MS method over a GC-MS method for opiates. The structural similarity of these six opiates and others in the opiate class causes a high potential for interference and false-positive results. Twelve opiate analogues and metabolites were evaluated for interference. The potential for interference was reduced by altering the MRM transitions chosen for the six opiates. The increased specificity of LC-MS-MS decreased the interference rate in urine to 3.9% compared to 13.6% on the in-house GC-MS method. The rate of positivity for 6-AM in meconium is described for the first time. In urine, 11.0% of morphine positive specimens were also positive for 6-AM compared to 8.3% in serum/plasma and 0.9% in meconium. Although 6-AM is infrequent in meconium, it provides a definitive proof of illegal heroin abuse by the pregnant mother. This method has been routinely used in our laboratory over the last 6 months on more than 1500 patient specimens.

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: ARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology, ARUP Laboratories Inc, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 2: Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 3: ARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology, ARUP Laboratories Inc, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108; Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112

Publication date: 2007-01-01

More about this publication?

• The Journal of Analytical Toxicology (JAT), established in 1977 and published 9 times a year, is the international source covering a broad range of clinical, forensic, and industrial laboratory topics regarding the isolation, identification, and quantitation of potentially toxic substances.

  With an emphasis on practical application, JAT articles provide improved and novel techniques for use in clinical, forensic, workplace, sports testing (doping), and other toxicology laboratories. Articles describe newly developed methods in immunoassay testing, gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, atomic absorption spectrometry, solid and liquid phase extraction techniques, and other analytical approaches. Worldwide readership includes toxicologists, pathologists, chemists, clinicians, researchers, and educators working in medical examiner and law enforcement laboratories, hospitals, university and independent analytical laboratories, as well as the drug manufacturing industry.

  Each year in October, we publish a special issue from the Society of Forensic Toxicologists.

  JAT, as determined by ISI Citation Index, is one of the two most referenced international journals in forensic science.

• Subscribe to this Title
• ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Ecology ,  Toxicology
• By this author: Coles, Rebecka ;  Kushnir, Mark M. ;  Nelson, Gordon J. ;  McMillin, Gwendolyn A. ;  Urry, Francis M.

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers