Results of Comparative Determination of Morphine in Human Hair Using RIA and GC/MS

Summary: Results of radioimmunological and mass-spectrometric tests for morphine in human hair samples, conducted independently in two separate laboratories, were compared. A large degree of qualitative and quantitative parity was observed for the two methods at morphine levels above 1000 g/kg. Due to the Variation of results at levels below 1000 g/kg, more GC-MS tests are necessary äs a safeguard. Additional GC/MS analyses of the same samples showed that discrepancies between the results of the two methods are not necessarily due to a variable response to the analyte. The results of the GC/MS examinations showed that it is also possible to distinguish between heroin and codeine addicts. Introdüction The detection of various toxic metals in human hair and nails has been possible for many decades, and recently it has become possible to detect drugs. Some of the drugs so far analysed in hair are morphine (1 — 13), amphetamine (14, 15), barbiturates (3 — 6), cocaine (16), methaqtialone (3 — 5, 17) and phencyc