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Sweat testing for heroin and metabolites in a heroin maintenance program
P Kintz1, R Brenneisen, P Bundeli
1Institut de Médecíne Légale, Strasbourg, France.
Clinical Chemistry
|May 1, 1997
Summary
This study analyzed heroin and its metabolites in sweat patches from subjects in a heroin maintenance program. Heroin was the primary drug detected, but doses did not correlate with sweat concentrations.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Toxicology
- Analytical Chemistry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Sensitive analytical techniques now allow drug analysis in unconventional matrices like sweat.
- Sweat analysis offers a non-invasive method for drug monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze heroin and its metabolites (6-acetylmorphine, morphine) in sweat patches.
- To investigate the correlation between administered heroin doses and sweat concentrations.
Main Methods:
- Sweat patches were worn by 14 subjects receiving heroin hydrochloride intravenously.
- Drugs were extracted using acetonitrile and analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS).
- Internal standards (deuterated heroin, 6-acetylmorphine, and morphine) were used for quantification.
Main Results:
- Heroin concentrations ranged from 2.1 to 96.3 ng/patch.
- 6-acetylmorphine and morphine were detected at lower concentrations (0-24.6 ng/patch and 0-11.2 ng/patch, respectively).
- Heroin was the predominant drug in sweat, except in one case; no dose-concentration correlation was observed.
Conclusions:
- Sweat patches can effectively detect heroin and its metabolites.
- The concentration of heroin in sweat patches does not directly correlate with the administered intravenous dose.
- Further research is needed to understand the pharmacokinetics of heroin in sweat.