Validation of an HPLC-MS/MS and Wipe Procedure for Mitomycin C Contamination

A high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (HPLC-MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of mitomycin C, an anticancer drug, from contamination on various surfaces. Mitomycin C is often used in various forms of intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and operating room healthcare worker exposure to this drug is possible. The surface testing method consisted of a wiping procedure utilizing a solution of 20/45/35 (v/v/v) of acetonitrile-isopropanol-water made 0.01 M in ammonium citrate (apparent pH 7.0). The wipe solutions were analyzed by means of HPLC-MS/MS using a reversed-phase gradient system and electrospray ionization in positive ion-mode with a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometric detector. Accuracy and precision of this method were demonstrated by a series of recovery studies of both spiked solutions and extracted wipes from various surfaces (stainless steel, vinyl and Formica®) spiked with known levels of mitomycin C. Recoveries of spiked solutions containing the analyte demonstrate mean recoveries (accuracy) ranged from 93 to 105%. Precision as measured by the relative standard deviation (%RSD) of multiple samples (n=10) at each concentration level demonstrated values of 7.5% or less. The recoveries from spiked surfaces varied from 30 to 99%. The limit of detection (LOD) for this methodology is approximately 2 ng/100 cm2 equivalent surface area, and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) is approximately 6 ng/100 cm2.