OBJECTIVE: To propose a method for simultaneous determination of codeine(COD), 6-monoacetyl-morphine (6-MAM), morphine (MOR), morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) in human urine by ultra performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). METHODS: After precipitation of protein by acetonitrile, the urine samples, with added the morphine-d3 (MOR-d3) and morphine-3-Glucuronide-d3 (M3G-d3) as internal standards, were pre-treated by Sirocco protein precipitation plate, and then analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS. RESULTS: The limit of detection was 0.2 ng/mL for both COD and MAM, the limit of quantitation was 0.5 ng/mL for both COD and MAM. The limit of detection was 0.5 ng/mL for MOR, M3G and M6G, the limit of quantitation was 1 ng/mL for them. The linear correlation coefficients were not less than 0.9997, both the inter-day and intra-day precisions were less than 10%, the recoveries were in the range of 70.0% to 98.3%, the matrix effects were about 50.5% to 99.0%. CONCLUSION This proposed method is simple, rapid and accurate, it could be applied in forensic toxicological analysis.
Chromatography, Liquid/methods* ; Codeine/urine* ; Humans ; Limit of Detection ; Morphine/urine* ; Morphine Derivatives/urine* ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Substance Abuse Detection/methods* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods*

OBJECTIVE: To compare morphine and codeine concentration in urines of heroin abusers and codeine users and to discuss the judgment index to distinguish between heroin abuser and codeine user. METHODS: The urines of heroin abusers and codeine users were collected at different time periods. After protein precipitation, the urine samples were conducted for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of morphine and codeine by UPLC-MS/MS. And the results were all statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed that morphine and codeine concentration in urines of heroin abusers and codeine users were both abnormal distributions. The probability of the heroin abuser would be more than 95% and less than 5% for the codeine user when the concentration of morphine in urine sample was more than 67 ng/mL. The probability of the codeine user would be more than 95% and less than 5% for the heroin abuser when the concentration of morphine in urine sample was less than 67 ng/mL. CONCLUSION The morphine concentration in urine could be used as a criterion to distinguish the heroin abuser from the codeine user, while the codeine concentration could not.
Administration, Oral ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Codeine/urine* ; Forensic Toxicology/methods* ; Heroin Dependence/urine* ; Humans ; Morphine/urine* ; Solutions ; Substance Abuse Detection/methods* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods*