Simultaneous analysis of thebaine, 6-MAM and six abused opiates in postmortem fluids and tissues using Zymark automated solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Opiates are some of the most widely prescribed drugs in America and are often abused. Demonstrating the presence or absence of opiate compounds in postmortem fluids and/or tissues derived from fatal civil aviation accidents can have serious legal consequences and may help determine the cause of impairment and/or death. However, the consumption of poppy seed products can result in a positive opiate drug test. We have developed a simple method for the simultaneous determination of eight opiate compounds from one extraction. These compounds are hydrocodone, dihydrocodeine, codeine, oxycodone, hydromorphone, 6-monoacetylmorphine, morphine, and thebaine. The inclusion of thebaine is notable as it is an indicator of poppy seed consumption and may help explain morphine/codeine positives in cases where no opiate use was indicated. This method incorporates a Zymark RapidTracetrade mark automated solid-phase extraction system, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and trimethyl silane (TMS) and oxime-TMS derivatives. The limits of detection ranged from 0.78 to 12.5 ng/mL. The linear dynamic range for most analytes was 6.25-1600 ng/mL. The extraction efficiencies ranged from 70 to 103%. We applied this method to eight separate aviation fatalities where opiate compounds had previously been detected.
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, Federal Aviation Administration, Forensic Toxicology Research Laboratory, AAM-610, P.O. Box 25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125, USA.
R J
RJ
Lewis
R D
RD
Johnson
R A
RA
Hattrup
D001322:Autoanalysis; D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods*; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry; D002138:Calibration; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D009022:Morphine Derivatives / Q000032:analysis*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000032:analysis*; D013797:Thebaine / Q000032:analysis*; D014116:Toxicology / Q000379:methods
D009022:Morphine Derivatives; D009294:Narcotics; D013797:Thebaine; C026979:6-O-monoacetylmorphine