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Published:
Journal of Analytical Toxicology,
ISSN 0146-4760,
Volume 30, Issue 4, May 2006,
pp.267-273
Comparison of the Various Opiate Alkaloid Contaminants
and Their Metabolites Found in Illicit Heroin with 6-Monoacetyl Morphine as
Indicators of Heroin Ingestion
Sue Paterson and Rosa Cordero
Toxicology Unit, Imperial College London, St. Dunstan’s Road, London W6
8RP, United Kingdom
In this study the use of the various opiate alkaloid contaminants
as potential markers for illicit heroin ingestion were investigated. Urine samples
(n = 227) taken from prisoners for routine drug screen, which were positive
for opiates by immunoassay screening, were analyzed for contaminants in illicit
heroin. A previously described method was used for the analysis; urines were
extracted using mixed-mode solid-phase extraction; the extracts were derivatized
using N-methyl-bistrifluoroacetamide and N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyltrifluoroactamide/trimethylchlorosilane.
The derivatized extracts were subjected to electron impact gas chromatography–mass
spectrometry. The extracts were injected in full scan mode followed by selected
ion monitoring mode for target opiate alkaloids found as contaminants in illicit
heroin. The opiate alkaloids and their metabolites specifically targeted included
meconine, desmethylmeconine, hydrocotarnine, acetylcodeine, codeine, morphine,
6-monacetylmorphine (6-mam), papaverine, hydroxypapaverine, and dihydroxypapaverine.
Of the 227 samples positive for opiates by immunoassay, using a cut-off of 300
ng/mL, 199 were confirmed positive for morphine and using a cut-off of 10 ng/mL,
28 were confirmed positive for 6-mam. Using the screening method described in
the study, the following numbers of positives were found: 199 for morphine,
103 for codeine, 5 for meconine, 46 for desmethylmeconine, 18 for 6-mam, 136
for hydroxypapaverine, and 139 for dihydroxypapaverine. Acetylcodeine, hydrocotarnine,
and papaverine were not detected in any of the samples. The results of this
study show that analysis for papaverine metabolites is more sensitive than 6-mam
as a way of demonstrating illicit heroin use.
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