Simultaneous analysis of Thebaine, 6-MAM and six abused opiates in postmortem fluids and tissues using Zymark ® automated solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

• Published in: Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences Vol. 822; no. 1; pp. 137 - 145
• Main Authors: Lewis, R.J., Johnson, R.D., Hattrup, R.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 05.08.2005; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Analysis; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Autoanalysis; Autopsy - methods; Biological and medical sciences; Body Fluids - chemistry; Calibration; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gas chromatography; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry - methods; General pharmacology; Medical sciences; Morphine Derivatives - analysis; Narcotics - analysis; Opiate; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Postmortem; Thebaine; Thebaine - analysis; Toxicology - methods; Zymark; Opiate; Gas chromatography; Zymark; Thebaine; Postmortem; Solid phase extraction; Spectrometry; Opiates
• ISSN: 1570-0232; 1873-376X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2005.05.031

Opiates are some of the most widely prescribed drugs in America and are often abused. Demonstrating the presence or absence of opiate compounds in postmortem fluids and/or tissues derived from fatal civil aviation accidents can have serious legal consequences and may help determine the cause of impairment and/or death. However, the consumption of poppy seed products can result in a positive opiate drug test. We have developed a simple method for the simultaneous determination of eight opiate compounds from one extraction. These compounds are hydrocodone, dihydrocodeine, codeine, oxycodone, hydromorphone, 6-monoacetylmorphine, morphine, and thebaine. The inclusion of thebaine is notable as it is an indicator of poppy seed consumption and may help explain morphine/codeine positives in cases where no opiate use was indicated. This method incorporates a Zymark ® RapidTrace™ automated solid-phase extraction system, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and trimethyl silane (TMS) and oxime-TMS derivatives. The limits of detection ranged from 0.78 to 12.5 ng/mL. The linear dynamic range for most analytes was 6.25–1600 ng/mL. The extraction efficiencies ranged from 70 to 103%. We applied this method to eight separate aviation fatalities where opiate compounds had previously been detected.