title: Thermospray liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of corticosteroids.
abstract: A high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for thermospray mass spectrometric analysis of steroidal hormones. Using a Nova-Pak C18 reversed-phase column and isocratic elution with a solvent comprised of 25 mM ammonium formate in 30% acetonitrile, corticosteroids were separated within 10 min. This solvent also permitted ultraviolet absorbance detection down to 220 nm with low-nanogram sensitivity. The use of acetonitrile was favourable for thermospray mass spectrometric analysis because mass spectra were obtained with a pseudomolecular ion as the base peak. A combination of liquid chromatography, ultraviolet absorbance detection and thermospray mass spectrometry provided a sensitive and reliable method for unequivocal confirmation of the presence of steroidal drugs in equine urine.
authors.affiliation: Analytical Toxicology and Drug Testing, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steffenrud
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maylin
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000652:urine*; D000818:Animals; D004300:Doping in Sports; D006736:Horses; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones