Fast and simple method of morphine extraction from the blood

Wstęp/Materiał i metody. W badaniu oceniano wydajność ekstrakcji morfiny z krwi pełnej metodą ciecz-ciecz za pomocą 3 układów rozpuszczalników organicznych. Wyniki. Najwyższy procent odzysku morfiny z krwi (92,5%) obserwowano, stosując mieszaninę izopropanolu i chloroformu (9:1), natomiast niższy, choć nadal zadowalający, gdy używano acetonitrylu (72,7%) lub dichlorometanu (67,1%). Wnioski. Izolacja morfiny z krwi pełnej za pomocą ekstrakcji ciecz-ciecz z zastosowaniem mieszaniny izopropanolu i chloroformu jest metodą szybką, wydajną i łatwą do przeprowadzenia w każdym laboratorium.Background/Material and methods. In this study we evaluated the efficiency of morphine extraction from the whole blood by liquid-liquid methods using three types of organic solvents. Results. The highest average recovery rate was observed for the 9:1 mixture of isopropanol and chloroform (92.5%). Lower, but still satisfactory, recovery rate was observed for acetonitril (72.7%) and dichloromethane (67.1%). Conclusions. Isolation of morphine from the whole blood by simple solvent extraction with isopropanol-chloroform mixture is fast, efficient and easily accessible for each laboratory

Determination of cocaine and benzoylecgonine in nails by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry

Nails and hair are a biological matrix which can be analyzed to confirm the use of a xenobiotic even several months after intake. Results of nail analysis can be used, for example, as evidence in civil and criminal law cases in which a history of drug use can influence the court’s decision. The paper presents results of analysis of a nail sample taken from a man who was suspected of trafficking cocaine. The suspect pleaded guilty to the possession of the drug for his own use because, as he claimed, he was addicted to cocaine. A nail sample was taken. Detection and quantification were carried out using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). The concentration of cocaine in nails was found to be 47 ng/mg, and benzoylecgonine – 14 ng/mg