Detection and identification of morphine in urine extracts using thin-layer chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

The application of tandem mass spectrometry to the analysis and identificat ion of morphine following thin-layer chromatography is described. FAB-mass spectrometry and mass spectrometry-mass spectrometry were performed followi ng chromatography on silica gel high-performance thin-layer chromatography plates. The successful application of this simple methodology to a urine ex tract suggests that this approach has practical utility for confirming the identity of abused drugs detected by thin-layer chromatography. (C) 1999 El sevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.