Simultaneous identification and quantification of several opiates and derivatives by capillary gas chromatography and nitrogen selective detection

Optimization of morphine extraction method for the assay of its urinary 3-glucuronideconjuguate by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

In the field of doping, a great interest is carried for the analysis of morphine, a powerful narcotic analgesic opiate which use is prohibited during competitions. In order to confirm the abnormal analytical result in our anti-doping laboratory, a sensitive and selective gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was performed for the quantification of urinary morphine. As sample preparation is a key step for the determination of drugs in biological samples, the aim of this work consists of the optimization of the urinary human sample pretreatment conditions before quantification by GC/MS. Enzymatic hydrolysis associated with liquid-liquid extraction constitute the major pre-treatment steps. Our study has first focused on the optimization of the extraction solvents then to enzymatic hydrolysis which morphine is released from its glucuronide conjugated form. Onboard premiums, a study involving the effect of "amount of enzyme", "incubation temperature" and "duration of hydrolysis" was conducted. This univariate study has enabled us to evaluate the influence of each of these operating variables on the area ratio of morphine to the internal standard (A_morphine/A_IS) response and to set the experimental fields for each one of them. Based on these results, an experimental design was established using the Box-Behnken model to determine, by multivariate analysis, the optimal operating conditions maximizing the "A_mophine/A_IS" response. After validation, the analysis of response surface makes it possible to set the optimum operating conditions, which the ratio "A_morphine/A_IS" is maximized. The retained conditions for enzymatic hydrolysis are 160μl of Escherichia coli glucuronidase enzyme during 6hours of incubation at a temperature of 36°C. The solvent mixture Methyl-t-Butyl Ether/isopropanol (4:1, v/v) was selected since it has improved morphine extraction from the urinary matrix allowing a gain of 50% when compared to that used in our routine laboratory. Our developed extraction method can be successfully applied for our forensic anti-doping analysis of morphin in human sample urine.

Morphine and its metabolites: Analytical methodologies for its determination

The present article reviews the methods of determination published for morphine and its metabolites covering the period from 1980 until at the first part of 2006. The overview includes the most relevant analytical determinations classified in the following two types: (1) non-chromatographic methods and (2) chromatographic methods.

Rapid assay of cocaine, opiates and metabolites by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The simultaneous assay of cocaine, opiates and metabolites in small biological samples continues to be a difficult task. This report focuses upon tabulation of important techniques (extraction, derivatization, chromatographic conditions, detection mode, data acquisition) reported over the last decade that were used in the development of assays for these analytes. The most prevalent procedures for extraction of cocaine, opiates and metabolites were liquid-liquid and solid-phase extraction isolation methods. Following extraction analytes were derivatized and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The technique most often used for chromatographic separation was fused-silica capillary column gas chromatography. Detection generally was performed by selected ion monitoring in the positive-ion electron-impact ionization mode, although full-scan acquisition and positive- and negative-ion chemical ionization methods have been used. It was apparent from the review that there is a continuing need for greater sensitivity and selectivity in the assay of highly potent opiates and for cocaine and metabolites.

Codeine concentrations in human samples in a case of fatal ingestion

Capillary gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was employed to quantify codeine in biological fluids and tissues in a death attributed to oral codeine ingestion. The blood concentration of codeine was 22.1 mg/l. Results are discussed in the light of the existing literature.

Toxicology and fly larvae on a putrefied cadaver

Toxicological analyses on a putrefied cadaver are sometimes difficult to achieve, due to the absence of blood and/or urine. In this study, morphine and phenobarbital were simultaneously identified and assayed in several tissues of a putrefied cadaver and in the fly larvae of Calliphoridae found on the corpse.