INFLUENCE OF HYDROLYSIS PROCEDURES ON THE URINARY CONCENTRATIONS OF CODEINE AND MORPHINE IN RELATION TO DOPING ANALYSIS

A method is described for the GC-NPD determination of urinary codeine and morphine after derivatization with trifluoroacetic anhydride. The lower limit for accurate quantitative determination was 0.05 mug ml-1. After the oral administration of Bisolvon Griblettes(R) corresponding to 30 mg codeine phosphate to seven subjects maximum codeine concentr ations were obtained after 1-2 h and codeine remained detectable gener ally 24 h post dosing. The mean maximum level was 5.1 +/- 2.8 mug ml-1 found after enzymatic hydrolysis with Suc Helix pomatia juice (SHP). Based on these and previous results (mean 6.3 +/- 3.4 mug ml-1) a thre shold level for codeine of 16 mug ml-1 is proposed. Significant differ ences were noticed between urinary codeine concentrations found after enzymatic hydrolysis with SHP, beta-glucuronidase from Patella vulgata and acid hydrolysis, respectively. Generally, highest values were obt ained after SHP, while beta-glucuronidase and especially acid hydrolys is resulted in much lower levels. No morphine could be detected after acid hydrolysis. Concerning doping analysis, in particular the uniform ity of methods and interpretation of the results, it is recommended th at the hydrolysis method should be specified in the rules of those spo rting federations allowing codeine and/or morphine.