Determination of the Heroin Metabolite 6-Monoacetylmorphine in Urine by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Electrochemical Detection

Abstract

A procedure has been developed for detection and quantitation of 6-monoecetylmorphine (6-MAM), the specific metebolite of heroin in human urine. 6-MAM was isolated by solid-phase extraction, and the extracts were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection in the oxidizing mode. Good linearity was obtained in the concentration range 10–250 ng/mL. Concentrations of 2 ng 6-MAM/mL can be detected using a 2-mL sample of urine. The method has been verified in urine samples of heroin abusers.