Stereospecific antibodies to methadone. I. Radioimmunoassay of d,l-methadone in human serum.

Anti-d,l-methadone antibodies were produced in rabbits immunized with d,l-methadol-hemisuccinate thyroglobulin conjugate. Using the antiserum, a radioimmunoasay (RIA) for determination of d,l-methadone in human serum has been developed and is described. Concentration of d,l-methadone of 1.4 pmol in a native serum sample (volume 0.1 ml or less) could be measured directly by RIA. The antibodies crossreact 100% with d,l-methadone, 50% with d-methadone, 50% with l-methadone and 100% with alpha-d-methadol. No crossreactivity was found with alpha 1-methadol, morphine, meperidine, dextropropoxyphene, 2-ethyl-5-methyl-3,3-diphenyl-l-pyrroline and 2-ethylidene-l, 5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidene. High sensitivity and small sample requirements make this method suitable for future monitoring of patients on methadone maintenance and for studies where other procedures have lack of sensitivity.