title: Laboratory analysis of remotely collected oral fluid specimens for opiates by immunoassay.
abstract: The performance characteristics of a method for detecting opiates (morphine, codeine, heroin, and 6-acetylmorphine [6-AM]) in oral fluid specimens were examined and compared with methods for urine specimens. The oral fluid was easily obtained using a simple device that collects between 1 and 1.5 mL of fluid for laboratory analysis. Simultaneously collected specimens from 60 known opiate abusers from a drug-treatment center were first tested using an immunoassay cutoff of 10 ng/mL in oral fluids and 2,000 ng/mL in urine. Using a second aliquot, opiate confirmation in urine was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and in oral fluids by GC-MS-MS. The combined immunoassay and GC-MS-MS procedures were completed with less than 250 pL of oral fluid. Opiates identified in oral fluid specimens from heroin users included morphine, codeine, heroin, and 6-AM. The immunoassay was tested for precision, stability, and the effects of potential cross-reactants. The results yielded 93.6% agreement between oral fluid and urine, suggesting that oral fluid may be a reliable matrix for opiate detection.
authors.affiliation: OraSure Technologies, Inc, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, USA. Sniedbala@orasure.com
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Niedbala
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kardos
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waga
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fritch
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yeager
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doddamane
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schoener
mesh_terms: D003061:Codeine / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D003932:Heroin / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D009020:Morphine / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D009022:Morphine Derivatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D009294:Narcotics / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine*; D010207:Papaver / Q000276:immunology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012639:Seeds / Q000276:immunology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D009022:Morphine Derivatives; D009294:Narcotics; D003932:Heroin; D009020:Morphine; C026979:6-O-monoacetylmorphine; D003061:Codeine