Application of radioimmunoassay techniques to the identification of narcotic substances in biological fluids

Radioimmunoassay with a com. kit was more sensitive and rapid than gas or thin-layer chromatog. for detg. morphine (I) [57-27-2], I-like narcotics, and barbiturates in the urine of drug addicts or of persons who had died after taking narcotics. Of 68 samples examd. for I, pos. results were found in 39, 29, and 23 by radioimmunoassay, gas chromatog., and thin-layer chromatog., resp. For barbiturates, radioimmunoassay gave 32 pos. results and thin-layer chromatog. 14. Seventeen other samples analyzed by radioimmunoassay showed the presence of I at 10-40 ng/ml, and 9 other samples contained barbiturates at 25-100 ng/ml. The advantages of using radioimmunoassay in large-scale screening and forensic toxicol. are discussed.