A new rapid micromethod for the assay of phenobarbital from dried blood spots by LC-tandem mass spectrometry

Epilepsia. 2009 Dec;50(12):2658-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2009.02204.x. Epub 2009 Jul 20.

Abstract

Advantages of dried blood spot include low invasiveness, ease and low cost of sample collection, transport, and storage. We used tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to determine phenobarbital levels on dried blood spot specimens and compared this methodology to commercially available particle enhanced turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay (PETINIA) in plasma/serum samples. The calibration curve in matrix using D(5)-phenobarbital as internal standard was linear in the phenobarbital concentration range of 1-100 mg/L (correlation coefficient 0.9996). The coefficients of variation in blood spots ranged 2.29-6.71% and the accuracy ranged 96.54-103.87%. There were no significant differences between the concentrations measured using PETINA and LC-MS/MS (both had similar precision and accuracy) however, LC-MS/MS allows at least 1.5 times higher throughput of phenobarbital analysis and additionally offers ease of sample collection which is particularly important for newborns or small infants.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Anticonvulsants / blood*
  • Biological Assay
  • Blood Chemical Analysis / methods*
  • Blood Chemical Analysis / statistics & numerical data
  • Blood Specimen Collection / methods
  • Calibration
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Chromatography, Liquid / methods*
  • Humans
  • Immunoassay / methods
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Middle Aged
  • Nephelometry and Turbidimetry / methods
  • Phenobarbital / blood*
  • Plasma / chemistry
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Serum / chemistry
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods*

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Phenobarbital