A validated method for simultaneous screening and quantification of twenty-three benzodiazepines and metabolites plus zopiclone and zaleplone in whole blood by liquid-liquid extraction and ultra-performance liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry

Kirsten Wiese Simonsen, Sigurd Hermansson, Anni Steentoft, Kristian Linnet

39 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS-MS) method for detection of 23 benzodiazepines and related compounds in whole blood was developed and validated. The method is used for screening and quantitation of benzodiazepines in whole blood received from autopsy cases and living persons. The detected compounds were alprazolam, bromazepam, brotizolam, chlordiazepoxide, demoxepam, clobazam, clonazepam, 7-aminoclonazepam, diazepam, nordiazepam, estazolam, flunitrazepam, 7-aminoflunitrazepam, lorazepam, lormetazepam, midazolam, nitrazepam, 7-aminonitrazepam, oxazepam, temazepam, triazolam, zaleplon, and zopiclone. Whole blood from drug-free volunteers was used for all experiments. Blood samples (0.200 g) were extracted with ethyl acetate at pH 9. Target drugs were quantified using a Waters ACQUITY UPLC system coupled to a Waters Quattro Premier XE triple quadrupole in positive electrospray ionization, multiple reaction monitoring mode. The use of deuterated internal standards for most compounds verified that the accuracy of the method was not influenced by matrix effects. Extraction recoveries were 73-108% for all analytes. Lower limits of quantification ranged from 0.002 to 0.005 mg/kg. Long-term imprecision (CV%) ranged from 6.0 to 18.7%. We present a fully validated UPLC-MS-MS method for 23 benzodiazepines in whole blood with a run-time of only 5 min and using only 0.200 g of whole blood.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Analytical Toxicology
Volume34
Issue number6
Pages (from-to)332-41
Number of pages10
ISSN0146-4760
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2010

Keywords

  • Acetamides
  • Azabicyclo Compounds
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Humans
  • Piperazines
  • Pyrimidines
  • Substance Abuse Detection
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

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