An evaluation of six methods for the detection of drugs of abuse in urine

The detection of drugs of abuse in urine by four commercial immunoassay systems (TDx, BCL and PFI-20 opiates, and PFI-20 morphine) and one commercial TLC system (Toxi-Lab) was investigated and results compared with those obtained by a dual-column capillary GC system. The TDx system was the most reliable method for preliminary screening of urines for opiates; all the commercial immunoassay systems gave some results which were at variance with those of the GC. The GC method proved to be more reliable than the commercial TLC system in discriminating between the different opiates and is recommended for identification of drugs of abuse in urine specimens in which positive results have been obtained with preliminary screening procedures.

Gonadal function in male heroin and methadone addicts

Gonadal function was elevated in 80 male heroin and/or methadone addicts by measuring basal plasma levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL) and testosterone. In 41 subjects semen analyses were also undertaken. Three groups were distinguished consisting of 15 heroin addicts, 42 undergoing methadone treatment but continuing to take heroin, and 23 taking only methadone. All patients had normal plasma levels of FSH, LH and testosterone. Prolactin levels were normal in all subjects except for the 15 heroin addicts, in whom they were significantly higher than in controls (P less than 0.025). Semen analyses from all of the heroin addicts and from the dual heroin-methadone users were abnormal, whereas only 10 out of 22 (45%) of the methadone takers were pathological. In all cases asthenospermia was one of the abnormalities (100%). Twenty-four per cent also showed teratospermia and hypospermia and 17% showed oligozoospermia. Such seminal pathology, especially of forward motility, even in combination with normal hormone levels, might be an early indication of heroin toxicity to the male reproductive tract.

Development of fluoroimmunoassays for the specific detection of morphine in urine

Two fluoroimmunoassays for the specific detection of morphine in urine are described based on the use of ovine antibodies and fluorescein-labelled normorphine. The first, a polarisation fluoroimmunoassay, is performed by adding 10 microliter of urine to 1.5 ml of a single-reagent, comprising premixed antiserum and tracer, incubation for a few minutes at ambient temperature and measurement of fluorescence polarisation. The assay gives results which compare well with those by thin-layer chromatography, EMIT d.a.u., and the Boehringer opiate drug test. Although adequate for routine screening for drug abuse, the technique is not as sensitive as some radioimmunoassays. Therefore, a second fluoroimmunoassay was developed based on the use of the same antibodies covalently coupled to magnetisable particles to facilitate both the separation of the bound and free fractions and the removal of non-specific interfering substances. Thus, larger sample volumes could be employed and greater sensitivity achieved.

Experience with a haemagglutination inhibition test for morphine detection in urine

A commercially available haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test (Drug Test Opiates, Boehringer Biochemia Robin) for the detection of morphine in urine has been evaluated alongside a routine TLC method and a radioimmunoassay. TLC gave positive results for morphine, codeine or dihydrocodeine in 138 out of 300 samples from patients attending a drug dependence treatment unit. These were also positive according to the HI test, but a further 76 of the TLC negative samples also gave positive results with this technique. The TLC negative samples (162) were also analysed by RIA and positive results were obtained for 96 samples. Neither of the immunological tests could distinguish between morphine, codeine or dihydrocodeine, but no reactions with other abused drugs were observed.