Simultaneous Determination of Monoacetylmorphine, Morphine, Codeine, and Other Opiates by GC/MS

Abstract

A GC/MS method for the simultaneous determination of morphine, codeine, and O-6-monoacetylmorphine as well as other semisynthetic opiates in urine is described. The method employs 2H6-acetic anhydride to acetylate free hydroxyl groups on all of the opiates. As a result, the same hydrolysis and extraction procedure is used for all analytes. Quantitation is achieved using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in the electron impact mode and with selected ion monitoring of the three most characteristic ions for each analyte. Ratios of these three ions are used for verifying identity while the molecular ions are used for quantitation. The detection limit for all analytes is less than 10 ng/mL.

Simultaneous analysis of Thebaine, 6-MAM and six abused opiates in postmortem fluids and tissues using Zymark® automated solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

“…Thebaine is a naturally occurring opiate that is introduced into the body, along with morphine and codeine, following the consumption of poppy seeds [4][5][6][7][8]. Scientific literature has clearly demonstrated the distinct possibility of a morphine and/or codeine positive due to poppy seed consumption [4][5][6][7][8].…”

“…Scientific literature has clearly demonstrated the distinct possibility of a morphine and/or codeine positive due to poppy seed consumption [4][5][6][7][8]. The potential legal consequences of an opiate positive necessitates that laboratories, both drug testing and forensic, differentiate between an opiate positive due to morphine or codeine use and an opiate positive due to poppy seed consumption.…”

Validated assay for the determination of markers of illicit heroin in urine samples for the control of patients in a heroin prescription program

“…In urine 6-acetylmorphine (6AM) is a specific marker of heroin use, and several methods for its detection have been reported [16][17][18][19]; however, the detection window for 6AM is short (<8 h). COD and especially acetylcodeine (AC) have been suggested as markers of illicit heroin abuse [20][21][22][23].…”

La spectrométrie de masse et ses principales applications en biologie médicale

“…• toxiques [40][41][42] : métaux (jusqu'à 34 éléments), cyanures ; • dopage : détection et identification de stéroïdes anabolisants [43], nandrolone et métabolites (norandrostérone et noréthio-cholanolone) ; • stupéfiants et soumission chimique [44] : opiacés [45,46], cocaïniques [47], buprénorphine et norbuprénorphine [48], cannabis [49], LSD [50], dérivés de l'ecstazy [51], GHB [52], kétamine [53]. Remarque : La spectrométrie de masse est, bien sûr, applicable en biologie vété-rinaire ; elle est très présente dans le domaine de l'agroalimentaire et de la protection de l'environnement : • agroalimentaire : dioxine dans les poissons contaminés [54], PCB dans les matières grasses, le lait et les oeufs, [57], explosifs dans les aéroports et les gares [58].…”