ABSTRACT
Until the first determination of opiates in human hair by GC/MS in 1985, radioimmunological results of hair examinations met with opposition. Since then, further GC/MS methods have been developed that have led not only to considerably increased sensitivity, but can also be used in hair analysis for screening purposes and can detect substances for which RIA kits are not available. In the present study different extraction methods were used along with two GC/MS processes which back-up each other. These methods include the enzymatic dissolution of the hair, incubation with a buffer solution followed by a solid-phase extraction and incubation with methanol without a further extraction. The GC/MS examination for heroin, cocaine, hashish and selected pharmaceuticals was carried out after derivatization with pentafluoropropionic acid anhydride or pentafluoro-1-propanol. Because of the higher sensitivity and versatility of GC/MS, two GC/MS processes were used to confirm each other instead of backing-up radioimmunological measurements with GC/MS.
Subject(s)
Clozapine/analysis , Codeine/analysis , Hair/chemistry , Illicit Drugs/analysis , Morphine/analysis , Substance Abuse Detection/methods , Child , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry , Humans , RadioimmunoassayABSTRACT
After the examination of more than 300 hair samples of suspected heroin abusers, a large number of which proved positive, we can say that high concentrations of dihydrocodeine can be determined either in addition to, or in the place of, morphine and also frequently in combination with codeine. The opiates were extracted after dissolving the hair samples in NaOH and hydrolysis with HCl. The quantitative determination of dihydrocodeine was achieved by derivatisation with HFBA using GC/MS at m/u = 497. Dihydrocodeine is used in antitussive drugs. After the examination of individual hair samples, it was obvious that some heroin consumers had switched to dihydrocodeine. This may lead to the conclusion that dihydrocodeine itself is used either as an intoxicating drug or to reduce withdrawal symptoms. The increasing number of positive samples should be noted by the legal authorities.
