Abstract
Heroin is diacetylated morphine. Its ability to induce euphoria has led to its frequent abuse, giving rise to psychological and physical dependence. It has a short half-life, of approximately 2-6 min. In the brain, heroin undergoes deacetylation to 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) and morphine. Detection of 6-acetylmorphine in the urine is indicative of heroin use. The aim of this study was to compare sensitivity and reliability of two analytical methods, a multicolumn liquid chromatography system with UV scanning detector (HPLC-UV) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry detection (LC-MS) in opiate determining in post mortem material. Post mortem samples (blood, urine and vitreous humor) were analyzed by liquid chromatography with UV and MS detection. The samples were prepared by liquid-liquid extraction with mixture chloroform-isopropanol (9:1). Separation was performed on C8 column with mobile phase composed of 55% acetonitrile-glacial acetic acid (99:1) and 45% 20 mM ammonium acetate. The analysis of blood samples, urine, and eye liquid by the use of multicolumn HPLC-UV method confirmed the presence of morphine in the samples of blood and urine, codeine only in urine, and 6-MAM in the samples of urine and eye liquid. Using LC-MS method morphine was confirmed in all of the samples, while codeine was confirmed in urine and in the sample of eye liquid. In the samples of eye liquid and urine 6-MAM was confirmed. For determination of opiates in post mortem material LC-MS technique is more sensitive and reliable as compared to multicolumn liquid chromatography.
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