Results of comparative determination of morphine in human hair using RIA and GC/MS

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 micrograms/kg. Due to the variation of results at levels below 1000 micrograms/kg, more GC-MS tests are necessary as 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.