ELISA screening with GC—MS confirmation of the tranquilizer chlorprothixene administered in sub-therapeutic doses to horses

Abstract A commercially available generic promazine ELISA kit is available which shows cross-reactivity for the tranquilizer chlorprothixene (CPT). The ELISA test readily detects the presence of CPT or its metabolites in equine urine for up to 24 h after the i.v. and i.m. administration of sub-therapeutic doses (4.5 mg) to three horses. Maximum concentrations (CPT equivalents) are obtained 2 h after i.v. dosing. No distinct concentration peak values are observed after i.m. administration. Following solid-phase extraction, confirmation of CPT and its metabolites by electron impact mass spectrometry after sub-therapeutic administration is not successful. The use of chemical ionization mass spectrometry however revealed the presence of at least four metabolites including; chlorprothixene sulphoxide, hydroxylated chlorprothixene and hydroxylated chlorprothixene sulphoxide.