Vitreous humor as an alternative sample to blood for the supercritical fluid extraction of morphine and 6-monoacetylmorphine

The use of vitreous humor as an alternative sample to blood was investigate d for the detection of heroin abuse by quantifying levels of morphine and 6 -monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) in post-mortem samples. The levels achieved in each of the two toxicological specimens were compared on a case-to-case bas is to determine if a correlation existed. A total of 20 positive morphine c ases were examined. In general, the levels of morphine in blood were higher than in the corresponding vitreous humor samples, with some correlation ex isting. 6-MAM was found in 15 blood samples and 17 vitreous humor samples. Although no correlation was found between the levels of 6-MAM in blood and vitreous humor, the latter may still be used for verification of heroin abu se.