Test Catalog

Test Id : 6MAMU

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6-Monoacetylmorphine Confirmation, Random, Urine

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Overview

Test Catalog

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Determination of heroin use

Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)

NY State Available
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.

Yes

Reporting Name
Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test

6-MAM Confirmation, U

Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching

6 MAM (6-Monoacetylmorphine)

6-MAM (6-Monoacetylmorphine)

Acetylmorphine

Diacetylmorphine (Heroin)

Heroin Metabolite

Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type validated for testing

Urine

Ordering Guidance

1. For situations where chain of custody is required, a Chain-of-Custody Kit (T282) is available. For chain-of-custody testing, order 6MAMX / 6-Monoacetylmorphine, Chain of Custody, Random, Urine.

2. If urine creatinine is required or adulteration of the sample is suspected, order ADULT / Adulterants Survey, Random, Urine.

3. Additional drug panels and specific requests are available. Call 800-533-1710 or 507-266-5700.

Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing

Supplies: Urine Tubes, 10 mL (T068)

Container Tube: Plastic, 10-mL urine tube

Specimen Volume: 10 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect a random urine specimen.

2. No preservative.

Additional Information:

1. No specimen substitutions.

2. STAT requests are not accepted for this test.

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Therapeutics Test Request (T831) with the specimen. 

Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of sample necessary to provide a clinically relevant result as determined by the testing laboratory. The minimum volume is sufficient for one attempt at testing.

2.1 mL

Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected

Gross hemolysis OK
Gross icterus OK

Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the performing laboratory, alternate acceptable temperatures are also included

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Urine Ambient 72 hours
Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
Frozen 14 days

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Determination of heroin use

Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Heroin (diacetylmorphine) is a semisynthetic opiate that is closely related to morphine. It is no longer used clinically in the United States, though elsewhere it is used for rapid relief of pain.(1) Like morphine and other opiates, its relaxing and euphoric qualities make heroin a popular drug of abuse. Heroin is commonly injected intravenously, although it can be administered by other means, such as snorting, smoking, or inhaling vapors.

 

Heroin shares the core structure of morphine, with the addition of 2 acetyl groups, which are thought to enhance its permeation into the central nervous system.(2,3) Heroin is metabolized by sequential removal of these acetyl groups; loss of first acetyl group converts heroin into 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) and loss of the second acetyl group converts 6-MAM to morphine, the dominant metabolite of heroin.(2,3) Heroin is rarely found in urine due to its rapid metabolism. 6-MAM is a unique metabolite of heroin, and its presence is a definitive indication of recent heroin use. Like heroin, 6-MAM has a very short half-life and detection window.

Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

Negative (Positive result is reported with a quantitative result)

 

Cutoff concentration by gas chromatography mass spectrometry:

6-Monoacetylmorphine: 5 ng/mL

Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

The presence of 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) in urine is definitive for recent heroin use. However, the absence of 6-MAM does not rule-out heroin use because of its short half-life. 6-MAM is typically only detectable within 24 hours of heroin use. 6-MAM is further metabolized into morphine, which may be detected 1 to 2 days after 6-MAM is no longer measurable. Morphine will typically be found in a specimen containing 6-MAM.(2,3)

Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

While 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) is metabolized to morphine, the presence of morphine alone is not sufficient evidence to prove heroin use. 6-MAM is the only definitive metabolite of heroin.

Clinical Reference
Recommendations for in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Giovannelli M, Bedforth N, Aitkenhead A. Survey of intrathecal opioid usage in the UK. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2008;25(2):118-122

2. Principles of Forensic Toxicology. 2nd ed. AACC Press; 2003:187-205

3. Hardman JG, Limbird LE, Gilman AG. Goodman and Gilman's. The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 10th ed. McGraw-Hill Book Company; 2001:590-592

4. Levine BS, Kerrigan S, eds. Principles of Forensic Toxicology. 5th ed. Springer; 2020

5. Brunton LL, Knollmann BC, eds. Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 14th ed. McGraw Hill LLC; 2023

6. Langman LJ, Bechtel LK, Holstege CP. Clinical toxicology. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham CAD, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2023:Chapter 43

Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

6-Monoacetylmorphine is extracted using solid phase extraction techniques. The eluent is evaporated, reconstituted in organic solvent, and then derivatized. It is then analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry using selected ion monitoring.(Unpublished Mayo method)

PDF Report
Indicates whether the report includes an additional document with charts, images or other enriched information

No

Day(s) Performed
Outlines the days the test is performed. This field reflects the day that the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means that assays are performed multiple times during the day.

Tuesday, Thursday

Report Available
The interval of time (receipt of sample at Mayo Clinic Laboratories to results available) taking into account standard setup days and weekends. The first day is the time that it typically takes for a result to be available. The last day is the time it might take, accounting for any necessary repeated testing.

3 to 7 days

Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

14 days

Performing Laboratory Location
Indicates the location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester

Fees
Several factors determine the fee charged to perform a test. Contact your U.S. or International Regional Manager for information about establishing a fee schedule or to learn more about resources to optimize test selection.

  • Authorized users can sign in to Test Prices for detailed fee information.
  • Clients without access to Test Prices can contact Customer Service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Prospective clients should contact their account representative. For assistance, contact Customer Service.

Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR) product.

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Clinic Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.

CPT codes are provided by the performing laboratory.

80356

G0480 (if appropriate)

LOINC® Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the order and results codes of this test. LOINC values are provided by the performing laboratory.

Test Id Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
6MAMU 6-MAM Confirmation, U 19593-3
Result Id Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
30983 6-Monoacetylmorphine by GC/MS 19593-3
29898 6-MAM Interpretation 69050-3
29899 Chain of Custody 77202-0

Test Setup Resources

Setup Files
Test setup information contains test file definition details to support order and result interfacing between Mayo Clinic Laboratories and your Laboratory Information System.

Excel | Pdf

Sample Reports
Normal and Abnormal sample reports are provided as references for report appearance.

Normal Reports | Abnormal Reports

SI Sample Reports
International System (SI) of Unit reports are provided for a limited number of tests. These reports are intended for international account use and are only available through MayoLINK accounts that have been defined to receive them.

SI Normal Reports | SI Abnormal Reports