ANALYSIS OF COMMON OPIATES AND HEROIN METABOLITES IN URINE BY HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

A separation of heroin, 6-monoacetylmorphine, codeine, pholcodine, dih ydrocodeine and morphine using a 200 x 2 mm I.D., 3 mu m silica column with dichloromethane-pentane-diethylamine-methanol mobile phase is de scribed. Data on the determination of these compounds in a urine matri x based on this separation using a solid-phase pretreatment with Bond Elut Certify cartridges and nalorphine as an internal standard are sho wn. The compounds listed can be quantified at levels below that genera lly accepted as the cut-off level for the screening for opiates by enz yme immunoassay (EMIT) with detection limits for the different opiates ranging from 4 to 20 ng ml(-1). Comparative data are shown of subject urine samples assayed for opiates by both the enzyme immunoassay and the proposed method. The utility of the method for the elimination of so-called false positives detected by EMIT due to the presence of medi cally prescribed and non-prescription opiates in urine is discussed.