Fiorenza Farè
Italy
Research Article
Determination of 6-Monoacetyl-Morphine (6-MAM) in Brain Samples
from Heroin Fatalities
Author(s): Gabriella Roda, Fiorenza Farè, Lucia Dell’Acqua, Sebastiano Arnoldi, Veniero Gambaro, Antonella Argo, Giacomo Luca Visconti, Eleonora Casagni, Paolo Procaccianti, Marta Cippitelli and Rino Froldi
Gabriella Roda, Fiorenza Farè, Lucia Dell’Acqua, Sebastiano Arnoldi, Veniero Gambaro, Antonella Argo, Giacomo Luca Visconti, Eleonora Casagni, Paolo Procaccianti, Marta Cippitelli and Rino Froldi
Objective: Post-mortem brain samples from 15 deceased patients whose death was heroin related, were analyzed to determine 6-monoacetyl-morphine (6-MAM) concentrations. The samples belonged to people died between 2008 and 2014. The first eight samples were also analyzed in 2012 to determine only morphine and codeine levels. Method: A GC/MS method was studied in order to enhance sensitivity, thus helping the determination of 6-MAM whose detection is in most cases difficult because of the complexity of the biological matrix. The analytical method was validated using deuterated internal standards (IS-D3, morphine-D3 and codeine-D3) and it showed adequate specificity, linearity, LOD, LOQ precision and accuracy for the determination of the analyte of interest. Results: 6-MAM was evidenced only in the more recent samples, thus pointing out its low stability. Its concentration ranged from 15.6 t.. View More»
DOI:
10.4172/2153-2435.1000451