Radioimmunoassay of buprenorphine in urine: studies in patients and in a drug clinic.
A radioimmunoassay kit (DPC buprenorphine double antibody) was evaluated with clinical samples and samples from a drug clinic. Urine samples were collected over a 2-day period from 5 hospital in-patients receiving sublingual buprenorphine, 400 to 2000 micrograms/day, for the relief of chronic pain. Samples were measured before and after enzymatic hydrolysis. Urine buprenorphine concentrations were measurable at all doses studied (minimum value 5.6 ng/mL) and were greater with larger doses. The increase in concentration after hydrolysis averaged 49% and was similar for all doses studied. The authors conclude that the method has extensive cross-reactivity with glucuronides of buprenorphine and its metabolites and that samples may be analyzed without prior hydrolysis. The prevalence of buprenorphine use in 97 patients attending a drug clinic was also studied. Sixty (62%) had measurable urinary buprenorphine concentrations of 1 ng/mL or more by direct assay. The buprenorphine users were significantly younger and reported significantly greater use of opiates than nonusers.
Hand
C W
CW
DPC European Research Institute, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.
Ryan
K E
KE
Dutt
S K
SK
Moore
R A
RA
O'Connor
J
J
Talbot
D
D
McQuay
H J
HJ
D000328:Adult; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000652:urine*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000652:urine*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000652:urine*
D002047:Buprenorphine