title: Opiate detection in saliva and urine--a prospective comparison by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
abstract: There is an increasing interest in saliva as an alternative analytic body fluid.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to determine the correlation of opiates analyzed in saliva and corresponding urine.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 130 adequate and 24 inadequate samples were collected from patients participating in drug withdrawal therapy. To obtain saliva from the oral cavity, a newly developed collection device (Clin Rep), consisting of a treated cotton roll and a centrifugation vial with a filter inset, was tested. For the preparation of a purified solution of urine, liquid extraction was used. Solid phase extraction was utilized to prepare the saliva samples. For the detection by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, an appropriate derivatization was necessary using N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide. The retention times were compared with defined standard solutions. The obtained mass spectra showed a characteristic fragmenting pattern and offered a reliable identification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concordance of the analytic results of the saliva samples with urine was 93% for a decision limit of 100 ng/mL and 98% for a decision limit of 300 ng/mL (DHHS opiate cutoff) in urine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Saliva, of adequate amount in 85% of samples, may be appropriate for analysis of drugs of abuse.
authors.affiliation: Krankenhaus München-Bogenhausen, München, Germany.
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Speckl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hallbach
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Guder
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zilker
mesh_terms: D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D009294:Narcotics / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics