title: Investigation of heroin profiling using trace organic impurities.
abstract: The acidic and neutral impurities in heroin samples (46 Purified South-East Asian (PSEA) and 8 non-PSEA samples) were analysed using gas chromatography. Mass spectral detection allowed the construction of a comprehensive library of over 649 impurities. A variety of statistical procedures were used to select 70 viable profiling parameters. Cluster analyses were used to investigate the similarities between samples using organic parameters. A blended PSEA profile was constructed for comparison with samples of unknown origins. Resolution between samples of PSEA/non-PSEA origins was demonstrated with a selection of 25 (18 continuous and 7 dichotomised) discriminating factors. Several predictive logistic models were created using up to 18 parameters, explaining 85-100% of the variation in the experimental data.
authors.affiliation: Australian Government Analytical Laboratories, Research and Development Section, PO Box 385, Pymble, NSW 2073, Australia.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Myors
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Crisp
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Skopec
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wells
mesh_terms: D001210:Asia, Southeastern; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D003932:Heroin / Q000737:chemistry*; D016015:Logistic Models; D009294:Narcotics / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D010936:Plant Extracts; D003932:Heroin