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Transformation of codeine and codeine-6-glucuronide to opioid analogues by urine adulteration with pyridinium chlorochromate: potential issue for urine drug testing

Authors :
Luong, Susan
Ung, Alison T
Kalman, John
Fu, Shanlin
Luong, Susan
Ung, Alison T
Kalman, John
Fu, Shanlin
Source :
Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A
Publication Year :
2014

Abstract

RATIONALE Pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC) is the active ingredient of 'Urine Luck', a commercially available in vitro adulterating agent used to conceal the presence of drugs in a urine specimen. The exposure of codeine and its major glucuronide metabolite codeine-6-glucuronide (C6G) to PCC was investigated to determine whether PCC is an effective masking agent for these opiate compounds. METHODS Following the addition of PCC to both spiked and authentic codeine and C6G-positive urine specimens, the samples were monitored using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). Stable reaction products were identified and characterized using high-resolution MS analysis and, where possible, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. RESULTS It was determined that PCC effectively oxidizes codeine and C6G, thus altering the original codeine-to-C6G ratio in the urine specimen. Four reaction products were identified for codeine: codeinone, 14-hydroxycodeinone, 6-O-methylcodeine and 8-hydroxy-7,8-dihydrocodeinone. Similarly, three reaction products were identified for C6G: codeinone, codeine and a lactone of C6G (tentative assignment). CONCLUSIONS Besides addressing the complications added to interpretation, more investigation is warranted to further determine their potential for use as markers for monitoring the presence of codeine and C6G in urine specimens adulterated with PCC.

Details

Database :
OAIster
Journal :
Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A
Publication Type :
Electronic Resource
Accession number :
edsoai.on1086606352
Document Type :
Electronic Resource