Toxicological screening of human plasma by on‐line SPE‐HPLC‐DAD: identification and quantification of basic drugs and metabolites

An automated multi-analyte screening method for the identification and quantification of 92 drugs and metabolites based on on-line solid-phase extraction–high-performance liquid chromatography–diode array detection technique was developed and successfully validated. In addition, a database with 870 entries including UV-spectra, relative/retention times and response factors of toxicologically relevant compounds was created. Plasma samples (0.2 mL) were treated with methanol, diluted with buffer and on-line extracted (Strata X, 20 ×2 mm, 25 µm) at pH 9. Analytical separation was carried out on a Gemini NX column (150 ×4.6 mm, 3 µm) using gradient elution with acetonitrile–water (90:10,v/v) and 0.05 m potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer (pH 2.3). Linear calibration curves with correlation coefficients ≥0.9950 were obtained for 78 analytes. As an additional benefit, the newly developed method allows the quantification of 42 analytes (e.g. antidepressants, neuroleptics and anticonvulsants) in a concentration range suitable for therapeutic drug monitoring. Limits of quantitation ranged from 0.02 mg/L (chlordiazepoxide) to 3.4 mg/L (mexiletine). Inter- and intra-day precisions of quality control samples (low/high) were better than 15% (zolpidem) and accuracy (bias) ranged from −11% (opipramol, venlafaxine) to 11% (venlafaxine, trazodone). Tests for carry-over and sample stability under different storage conditions were also performed and stability was adequate. Four cases of poisoning analysis are presented. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.