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Usefulness of multiple opiate and amphetamine analysis of hair segments under methadone therapy using LC-APCI-MS-MS

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Abstract

A detailed procedure for simultaneous analysis of morphine, codeine, 6-monoacetylmorphine, amphetamine, methadone, and its metabolite 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP) in human hair segments by liquid chromatography (LC)-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) was established. Hair samples were pulverized and extracted with methanol. The blank hair obtained from healthy subjects showed no interfering impurity peaks. Good linearity was obtained for all compounds in the range of 0.2–20 ng/mg. Accuracy and precision data were also satisfactory. Using the established method, the opiates, amphetamine, methadone, and EDDP in hair segments were measured for 20 patients undergoing methadone therapy. Complete abstinence was achieved by only 6 of the 20 patients. Other patients failed to abstain from opiate(s) and/or amphetamine. Our data show that the present hair analysis of multiple drugs of abuse by LC-APCI-MS-MS is useful for monitoring the success or failure of methadone therapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Toxicology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, 16 Grzegórzecka St, 31-531, Kraków, Poland

    Małgorzata Kłys & Sebastian Rojek

  2. Department of Toxicology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, Silesian University School of Medicine, 18 Medyków St, Katowice, Poland

    Joanna Kulikowska

  3. Specialist Hospital Outpatient Clinic for Psychoactive Substance Abusers and Co-Abusers, Chorzow, Poland

    Edward Bożek

Authors
  1. Małgorzata Kłys
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  2. Sebastian Rojek
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  3. Joanna Kulikowska
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  4. Edward Bożek
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Correspondence to Małgorzata Kłys.

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Kłys, M., Rojek, S., Kulikowska, J. et al. Usefulness of multiple opiate and amphetamine analysis of hair segments under methadone therapy using LC-APCI-MS-MS. Forensic Toxicol 25, 69–75 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-007-0030-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-007-0030-x

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