Simultaneous determination of morphine and codeine in blood and bile using dual ultraviolet and fluorescence high-performance liquid chromatography.
The separation and identification of morphine and codeine from postmortem blood and bile was accomplished using a liquid-phase extraction method followed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with combined UV and fluorescence detection. Identification of morphine and codeine was based on relative retention time matching with calibration standards, together with their fluorescence-to-UV response ratios. Linear calibration curves for morphine and codeine ranged from 0.10 to 3.0 mg/L for blood and 5.0 to 100 mg/L for bile. Morphine concentrations (in autopsy cases), where the intravenous use of heroin or morphine was suspected as the cause of death, were 0.10-0.89 mg/L (mean, 0.29 mg/L) for blood and 3.3-112 mg/L (mean, 38 mg/L) for bile. Codeine concentrations, where therapeutic use or overdosage of codeine occurred, were 0.06-6.4 mg/L (mean, 1.5 mg/L) in blood and 0.22-89 mg/L (mean, 24 mg/L) in bile. This method allowed simultaneous detection of morphine and codeine from blood and bile with little interference from extraneous peaks. The procedure described provides a selective, sensitive, accurate, and reliable method suitable for both clinical and forensic toxicology.
Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology, Monash University, South Melbourne, Australia.
K L
KL
Crump
I M
IM
McIntyre
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OH
Drummer
D001646:Bile / Q000737:chemistry*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D003061:Codeine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D009020:Morphine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D009020:Morphine; D003061:Codeine