title: Sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of clarithromycin in human plasma.
abstract: A sensitive method for the determination of clarithromycin in plasma is described, using high-performance liquid chromatographic separation with tandem mass spectrometric detection. Samples were prepared using liquid-liquid extraction and separated on a Supelco Discovery C18 column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile, methanol and acetic acid. Detection was performed by a PE SCIEX API 2000 mass spectrometer in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode (LC-MS-MS) using TurbolonSpray ionization and monitoring the transition of the protonated molecular ion for clarithromycin at m/z 748.5 (M+1) to the predominant product ion of m/z 158.2. The mean recovery of clarithromycin was 87.3%, with a lower limit of quantification of 2.95 ng/ml when using 0.3-ml plasma. This high-throughput method was used to quantify 230 samples per day, and is sufficiently sensitive to be employed in pharmacokinetic studies.
authors.affiliation: FARMOVS-PAREXEL, Clinical Research Organisation, Brandhof, South Africa. gert.vanrooyen@farmovs-parexel.com
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: van Rooyen
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: De Jager
authors.forename: H K L
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Hundt
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Swart
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Hundt
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002138:Calibration; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017291:Clarithromycin