Analysis of opiates and cocaine by RIA and GC-MS: distribution of their metabolites in urine and hair from drug addicts.
Two analytical techniques (RIA and GC-MS) were used for the simultaneous identification and determination of heroin, cocaine and their metabolites in the urine and hair of 200 drug addicts. Opiates tests were positive in 182 hair samples and 145 urine samples, whereas cocaine tests were positive in 173 hair samples and in 63 urine samples. Drug content of hair, as determined by RIA, varied over the ranges of 0-30 ng/mg (opiates) and 0-924 ng/mg (cocaine). Metabolite distribution was studied by GC-MS in samples taken from 50 individuals. Tests revealed 6-monoacetylmorphine to be ubiquitous in hair and morphine to be the major component in urine. Cocaine was found to invariably occur at higher concentrations than its metabolites in hair with the opposite result in urine.
Tabernero
M J
MJ
Department of Legal Medicine, Forensic Toxicology Service, Faculty of Medicine, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Bermejo
A M
AM
Fernandez
P
P