[Determination of morphine in the vitreous and cerebrospinal fluid by radioimmunoassay (author's transl)].

In 12 cases of fatal poisoning with morphine or heroin a radioimmunological determination of morphine was carried out in vitreous humor, cerebrospinal fluid and urine. The concentrations varied between 30 and 350 ng of morphine-equivalents/ml in the cerebrospinal fluid and between 45 and 280 ng/ml in the vitreous humor (urine concentrations: 120-100.000 ng/ml). The counts per minute differed significantly for samples with and without prior ingestion of morphine, when vitreous and cerebrospinal fluids were tested by the morphine (3H) radioimmunoassay. Thereby it was clearly demonstrated, that radioimmunoassay is a valuable screening procedure for the rapid identification of morphine in corpses, even when urine is not available.