Radioimmunoassay of Morphine in Urine from Ingestion of Poppy Seeds

A research-based bioanalytical/forensic science laboratory that makes use of a commercially available 125I-labeled radioimmunoassay kit (Coat-a-Count) is described. The kit is used to test for morphine in test-subjects’ urine after poppy seed consumption. The curricular goals include safe handling of radiochemicals, learning immunoassay skills, using radiochemical instrumentation and its associated calculations, and designing and analyzing experiments with several variables. Detection may employ a Geiger counter, gamma counter, or liquid scintillation counter. The results described in this paper include optimization of variables using fractional-factorial experimental designs and the effects of glucuronidation on morphine elimination. Student-designed experiments are provided that study the effects of drinking volume and sugar content of beverages consumed while eating poppy seeds prior to testing morphine levels in urine.