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Published:
Journal of Analytical Toxicology,
ISSN 0146-4760,
Volume 24,
Number 6, September 2000, pp.442-447
Here is where the title stuff goes
Total
Morphine Stability in Urine Specimens Stored under Various Conditions
Ber-Lin Chang, Min-Kun Huang, and Yu-Ying Tsai
Division of Drug Chemistry, National Laboratories of Foods and Drugs, Department
of Health, Executive Yuan, 161-2 Kuen Yang Street, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan
The stability of total morphine in urine stored under various
conditions was studied using control and experimental specimens. Samples in
the control group were prepared using drug-free urine spiked with morphine at
three concentration levels (300, 1000, and 2500 ng/mL), each with the pH adjusted
to 5.5, 6.5, and 7.5. Samples in the experimental group came from 20 alleged
heroin addicts (provided by Taipei Municipal Psychiatric Hospital). Samples
in both groups were divided into two categories—one with and one without
the precipitate (formed at 0°C) removed. Samples in each of these two categories
were further divided into two sub-groups—one with and one without sodium
azide (0.05%) added. Total morphine contents in these samples were first determined
by gas chromatography—mass spectrometry prior to storage and at 6, 12,
18, and 24 months following storage at –20, 4, 25, and 35°C. Effects
of sample treatment (azide addition and precipitate removal), pH, and storage
temperature and length were evaluated by examining the percentage of total morphine
remaining at the four time intervals following the initial determination. Major
findings were as follows: (1) total morphine decomposition was minimal when
stored for 12 months at –20°C, which is a common current practice;
(2) samples with lower initial sample pH had slower total morphine decomposition
rates; and (3) azide addition appeared to have no detectable effect, whereas
precipitate removal appeared to
marginally reduce the decomposition rate, especially for samples with lower
pH. Reproduction
of editorial content of this journal is prohibited without publisher’s
permission.
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