Simultaneous Determination of Methadone,Heroin and Their Metabolites in Hair By Gc-Ms

ABSTRACT

A method for the simultaneous identification and quantitation of methadone, codeine, morphine, monoacetylmorphine and heroin in hair by use of gas chromatography in combination with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is proposed. Hair samples are incubated with dithiothreitol and subsequently subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis with Pronase E. Following addition of their deuterated internal standards, samples are subjected to liquid-liquid extraction in ToxiTubes A ⁸. The residue thus obtained is derivatized with N, O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide/trimethylchlorosilane (BSTFA/TMCS) and directly injected into a GC-MS in the single ion mode (SIM). The calibration curve is linear over the range 0.5-50 ng/mg for all the analytes. The method was reproducible with limits of detection between 0.06 ng/mg (methadone) and 0.29 ng/mg (codeine). This method was applied in a 5-years-old child suspected to be victim of a coercive drug administration.