2-Nitro-6-monoacetylmorphine: Potential marker for monitoring the presence of 6-monoacetylmorphine in urine adulterated with potassium nitrite
- Publication Type:
- Journal Article
- Citation:
- Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2012, 403 (7), pp. 2057 - 2063
- Issue Date:
- 2012-06-01
Closed Access
| Filename | Description | Size | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 2011005371OK.pdf | 300.73 kB |
Copyright Clearance Process
- Recently Added
- In Progress
- Closed Access
This item is closed access and not available.
6-Monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM), being a unique metabolite of heroin, is routinely tested in urine samples to monitor heroin use. However, detection of 6-MAM-related opiates such as morphine is known to be affected by in vitro urine adulteration using oxidizing adulterants such as potassium nitrite. This study aimed to investigate the fate of 6-MAM after exposure to nitrite and to identify any formed oxidation products that may potentially be used for monitoring heroin abuse despite nitrite adulteration. Potassium nitrite (0.05 M and 0.6 M) was reacted with 6-MAM (5-10,000 ng/mL) in both water and blank urine with pH adjusted to range from 3 to 8. Following reaction at room temperature for varying periods, the reaction mixtures were monitored by both the CEDIA® Heroin Metabolite (6-AM) immunoassay and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods. Structural elucidation of the isolated oxidation products was based on mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic evidence. Nitrite, under acidic environment (pH<7), was shown to be effective in masking the detection of 6-MAM by both the CEDIA® immunoassay and the LC-MS methods. 2-Nitro-6-monoacetylmorphine (2-nitro-MAM) was identified as the sole oxidation product, which remained detectable in urine for at least 11 days under the experimental conditions investigated. 2-Nitro-MAM was detectable in a urine sample of a heroin user after nitrite exposure. 2-Nitro-MAM has shown potential to serve as a marker for monitoring heroin abuse when urine is adulterated with nitrite. Certification of 2-nitro-MAM reference standard for further development of its quantitative testing methods is thus warranted. © Springer-Verlag 2012.
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: