Morphine and Codeine in the Urine of Healthy Humans

Abstract

We identified morphine and codeine in the urine of healthy humans by means of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and immunoreactivity against morphine antibody. By using enzyme immunoassay, the immunoreactive morphine and codeine were detected in all the urine from 11 healthy men and the levels were 15.7±6.5 and 4.6±2.5 pmol/ml, respectively. There was a significant correlation between the contents of morphine and codeine in the urine. It is not known whether the opiates detected are of endogenous or exogenous origin.