Radioimmunoassay of methaqualone and its monohydroxy metabolites in urine

A commercial radioimmunoassay kit was evaluated for efficacy in detecting methaqualone or its metabolites in urine of persons receiving this drug. The drug and its unconjugated 3'- and 4'-monohydroxy metabolites could be detected equally well. The unconjugated alpha-monohydroxy metabolite was about 80% as reactive and the unconjugated 6-monohydroxy metabolite reacted only very weakly. Quantitation of the conjugated metabolites was less sensitive than of unconjugated. Nineteen urine specimens which reacted positively to radioimmunoassay and which thin-layer chromatography had shown to contain methaqualone and its metabolites were also examined by gas-liquid chromatography. Those specimens that reacted strongly to radioimmunoassay contained high concentrations of the drug or its metabolites. In the specimens examined by gas-liquid chromatography, the apparent concentrations of the metabolites were generally higher than those of the drug itself. Methaqualone in combination with its unconjugated metabolites reacted additively with the radioimmunoassay, resembling the same concentration of parent drug alone. Detection limits were between 10-200 mug/liter.