title: Thin-layer chromatographic screening and confirmation of methadone and its primary metabolite in urine.
abstract: A thin-layer chromatographic method for the simultaneous screening and confirmation of methadone and its primary metabolite (2-ethylidene-1,5-diemthyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine) in urine specimens is presented. Urine is made basic and extracted with organic solvent. After separation and concentration, the residue is spotted, half on each of two thin-layer chromatography plates. One plate is developed in an ethyl acetate:methanol:diethylamine (90:10:1.6) solvent system and the second in an ethyl acetate:methylene chloride:propylamine (85:17:1.0) solvent system. Methadone and its primary metabolite can be detected in concentration as low as 0.5 micrograms/mL without interference from other drugs and urinary substances.
mesh_terms: D001711:Biotransformation; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D006801:Humans; D008691:Methadone / Q000652:urine*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D008691:Methadone