The challenges of LC–MS/MS analysis of opiates and opioids in urine

Abstract

Opioids are some of the most commonly prescribed and abused drugs around the world. Primarily used for anesthesia or pain management, other opioids can also be used in the treatment of opioid addiction. Given these facts, clinicians often randomly test or monitor their patients to determine compliance or abstinence from these drugs via immunoassay methods. When a positive screen is obtained, a confirmatory assay is carried out and although the gold standard has been GC–MS, LC–MS/MS is fast becoming a valid and popular alternative. This review will discuss opioids, the complex metabolic pathways, the measurement of these drugs, the challenges involved and, finally, will describe some LC–MS/MS methods published from 2003 until 2013.