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  • Title: Simplified quantitation of urinary benzoylecgonine in cocaine addiction research and for related pharmacotherapeutic trials.
    Author: Peters JE, Chou JZ, Ho A, Reid K, Borg L, Kreek MJ.
    Journal: Addiction; 1996 Nov; 91(11):1687-97. PubMed ID: 8972926.
    Abstract:
    In clinical trials of potential pharmacotherapies for cocaine addiction, objective determination of subject relapse relies on qualitative urine analysis for benzoylecgonine, the major metabolite of cocaine. Unlike qualitative analysis, quantitative measurement allows differentiation between continued cocaine use and a single use, as well as identification of changes in the quantity of cocaine used at different times. The only quantitative technique that has been used is expensive and not generally feasible. This study was performed to modify an existing qualitative technique for use as a new simple and readily available quantitative method for identifying cocaine use among research subjects. Benzoylecgonine levels in 24-hour urine specimens collected from 11 cocaine-addicted subjects hospitalized in a research setting were measured semi-quantitatively by fluorescence polarization immunoassay. Accurate results required thorough mixing of urine specimens prior to analysis. At admission, eight subjects had urinary benzoylecgonine levels > or = 0.30 microgram/ml, the standard positive/negative cut-off used in qualitative analysis. The mean half-life of benzoylecgonine during initial elimination was 0.46 +/- 0.08 (SEM, n = 8) days. Benzoylecgonine (BE)/creatinine (C) levels remained > or = 0.30 microgramBE/mgC for 4.8 +/- 0.5 (n = 8) days and > or = 0.03 microgramBE/mgC for 10.5 +/- 1.5 (n = 8) days. Relapses in three subjects could be identified by quantitative analysis. This study indicates that quantitation of benzoylecgonine in daily urine specimens provides a sensitive, objective index to cocaine use.
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