Development of a rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of amphetamines in human plasma and oral fluid by LC-MS-MS

J Anal Toxicol. 2003 Mar;27(2):78-87. doi: 10.1093/jat/27.2.78.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / analogs & derivatives*
  • 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / analysis
  • 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / blood
  • Amphetamine / analysis
  • Amphetamine / blood
  • Amphetamines / analysis*
  • Amphetamines / blood
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / analysis*
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / blood
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Ephedrine / analysis
  • Ephedrine / blood
  • Humans
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Methamphetamine / analysis
  • Methamphetamine / blood
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / analysis
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / blood
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Saliva / chemistry*
  • Substance Abuse Detection / methods*

Substances

  • Amphetamines
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Methamphetamine
  • 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine
  • Amphetamine
  • Ephedrine
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
  • 3,4-methylenedioxyethamphetamine