ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 8

Analysis of Buprenorphine in Urine Specimens
Debrabandere, L
Pharmacist, chemist, and director, Laboratory of Toxicology, University of Louvain,

Van Boven, M
Pharmacist, chemist, and director, Laboratory of Toxicology, University of Louvain,

Daenens, P
Pharmacist, chemist, and director, Laboratory of Toxicology, University of Louvain,

(Received 16 April 1991; accepted 7 May 1991)

Abstract

The simultaneous determination of buprenorphine (Temgesic®) and its major metabolite, N-desalkylbuprenorphine, in urine samples has been studied. By using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection, therapeutic concentrations of unconjugated buprenorphine down to 0.2 ng/mL, and 0.15 ng/mL for the metabolite, can be detected in urine samples. This method has been applied to a variety of urine samples from drug users. The possible analytical interference from several other regulated drugs has been studied. The results were also compared with those obtained from a commercial radioimmunoassay (RIA) test. This test is only capable of detecting buprenorphine concentrations higher than 1 ng/mL.

Keywords:
toxicology, buprenorphine, urine, chromatographic analysis, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), electrochemical detection, radioimmunoassay

Paper ID: JFS13214J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13214J
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