Development of a rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of amphetamines in human plasma and oral fluid by LC-MS-MS.
Target analysis of amphetamines in biological samples is of great importance for clinical and forensic toxicologists alike. At present, most laboratories analyze such samples by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. However, this procedure is labor-intensive and time-consuming, particularly as a preliminary extraction and derivatization are usually unavoidable. Here we describe the development of an alternative method. Amphetamines were isolated from human plasma and oral fluid using a simple methanol precipitation step and subsequently analyzed using reversed-phase liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Quantitation of the drugs was performed using multiple reaction monitoring. The developed method, which requires only 50 microL of biological sample, has a total analysis time of less than 20 min (including sample preparation) and enables the simultaneous quantitation of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, and ephedrine in a single chromatographic run. Limits of detection of 2 microg/L or better were obtained. The method has been validated and subsequently applied to the analysis of plasma and oral fluid samples collected from current drug users.
Wood
M
M
Micromass U.K. Limited, Atlas Park, Simonsway, Wythenshawe, Manchester M22 5PP, United Kingdom. michelle.wood@micromass.co.uk
De Boeck
G
G
Samyn
N
N
Morris
M
M
Cooper
D P
DP
Maes
R A A
RA
De Bruijn
E A
EA
D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D000661:Amphetamine / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D000662:Amphetamines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D004809:Ephedrine / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*
D000662:Amphetamines; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008694:Methamphetamine; D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine; D000661:Amphetamine; D004809:Ephedrine; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; C051800:3,4-methylenedioxyethamphetamine