Confirmed Identification of Biotransformed Drugs of Abuse in Urine

Abstract

A procedure that has been developed during the past 6 years at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in New York City for rapid routine identification of drugs of abuse in urine is described. The urine is extracted at acidic, strongly basic, and weakly basic pH; the last, pH 8.5, fraction is hydrolyzed to increase extractable morphine and codeine. The residues are subjected to thin-layer chromatography and suspected spots scraped from the plates and confirmed by microcrystal examination or spectrofluorometry. Amphetamines, quinine, methadone, meperidine, propoxyphene, pentazocine, cocaine, and phenothiazine are present in the strongly basic extract. The acidic drugs, in particular barbiturates and glutethimide, are confirmed by gas–liquid chromatography. This procedure has proved effective for the routine analysis of more than 300 urine specimens daily for court purposes as well as for a variety of drug abuse identification, treatment, and follow-up programs. A rapid sensitive microchromatographic method for detection of marijuana components from teeth and fingers is also described.