Comparison of the Utility of Urine and Bile Samples in Detection of Morphine and Codeine in Bodies Referred to Fars Province General Administration of Forensic Medicine

Morphine as a basic opioid is a full agonist of brain receptors exerts its activity. Initial symptoms of morphine abuse are respiratory depression through direct central nervous system depression and can ultimately lead to apnea or complete respiratory arrest. Toxic dose of morphine suppresses the central nervous system and can cause coma. For the analysis of drugs abuse, often examples such as blood, liver, bile and urine are used.

In this study, urine and bile samples of 635 unknown samples were tested for morphine and codeine using thin layer chromatography and to biologic samples were compared.

Meanwhile, aside from the negative examples and statistical analysis was performed between positive samples. The results showed that morphine levels in bile are many times more than in the other samples. In cases that a drug or its metabolites in the blood and other samples cannot be detected, it can be detected in the bile.

Considering the results of this study, it can be concluded that bile samples as a supplement along with other samples such as urine can be used in detection and documentation of morphine and codeine.