Development and validation of a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assay for the determination of opiates and cocaine in meconium

J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2003 Sep 5;794(2):281-92. doi: 10.1016/s1570-0232(03)00478-1.

Abstract

A procedure based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is described for determination of 6-monoacetylmorphine, morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide, morphine-6-glucuronide, codeine, cocaine, benzoylecgonine and cocaethylene in meconium using nalorfine as the internal standard. The analytes are initially extracted from the matrix by methanol (6-monoacetylmorphine, morphine, codeine, cocaine, benzoylecgonine and cocaethylene) or 0.01 M ammonium hydrogen carbonate buffer (morphine-3-glucuronide, morphine-6-glucuronide). Subsequently a solid-phase extraction with Bondelut Certify columns (6-monoacetylmorphine, morphine, codeine, cocaine, benzoylecgonine and cocaethylene) or ethyl solid-phase extraction columns (morphine-3-glucuronide, morphine-6-glucuronide) was applied. Chromatography was performed on a C(8) reversed-phase column using a gradient of acetic acid 1%-acetonitrile as a mobile phase. Analytes were determined in LC-MS single ion monitoring mode with atmospheric pressure ionisation-electrospray (ESI) interface. The method was validated in the range 0.005-1.00 microg/g using 1 g of meconium per assay and applied to analysis of meconium in newborns to assess fetal exposure to opiates and cocaine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Calibration
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods*
  • Cocaine / analysis*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Meconium / chemistry*
  • Narcotics / analysis*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / methods*

Substances

  • Narcotics
  • Cocaine