Solid-phase extraction of 11-nor-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid from human urine with gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric confirmation

A highly automated 96-well solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of fentanyl in human plasma

A high-throughput bioanalytical method based on automated sample transfer, automated solid phase extraction, and fast liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) analysis, has been developed for the determination of the analgesic fentanyl in human plasma. Samples were transferred into 96-well plates using an automated sample handling system. Automated solid phase extraction (SPE) was carried out using a 96-channel programmable liquid-handling workstation using a mixed-mode sorbent. The extracted samples were then dried down, reconstituted and injected onto a silica column using an aqueous/organic mobile phase with tandem mass spectrometric detection. The method has been validated over the concentration range 0.05-100 ng/mL fentanyl in human plasma, based on a 0.25-mL sample size. The assay is sensitive, specific and robust. More than 2000 samples have been analyzed using this method. The automation of the sample preparation steps not only increased the analysis throughput, but also facilitated the transfer of the method between different bioanalytical laboratories of the same organization.

Clinical evaluation of Toxi · Prep™: a semiautomated solid-phase extraction system for screening of drugs in urine

A prototype Toxi · Prep (TP) system that utilizes solid-phase extraction (SPE) has been developed as a method for broad-spectrum drug screening and identification of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) metabolites in urine. TP can simultaneously extract up to seven specimens while automating the process of sample extraction, washing, and elution onto a chromatogram. TP was compared with the Toxi · Lab A (TL-A) system for extraction of basic drugs only. In a blind study, 33 distinct drugs and metabolites were detected in 55 urines over 13 runs. Of the drug occurrences, 68.8% (141 of 205) were detected on both TP and TL-A. Of the 13 runs, quinidine and quinine, nortriptyline metabolites, and diphenhydramine were noted more frequently on TP than TL-A, whereas nicotine and metabolites, morphine, and methadone metabolites were more frequently noted on TL-A. Twenty specimens were analyzed for THC metabolites. Of the cases positive for THC metabolites, 100% (16 of 16) were positive by both methods. Time and motion studies for all runs proved an overall labor reduction for extraction and spotting by ∼40%.

Quantification of 9-carboxy-11-nor-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol in urine using brominated 9-carboxy-11-nor-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol as the internal standard and high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

A method was developed for quantitating 9-carboxy-11-nor-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol in human urine as part of the process for validating an automated enzyme immunoassay for marijuana metabolites. Sample cleanup was accomplished using a mixed-mode solid-phase extraction. 9-Carboxy-11-nor-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol and the internal standard, brominated 9-carboxy-11-nor-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol, were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (+ 0.85 V). The linear range for this method is 0.012-0.20 microgram/mL. No interference was seen for 22 drugs and metabolites. The pooled relative standard deviation is 4.1% (n = 27) for the quality control samples. This method was compared to gas chromatography with mass spectrometry by linear regression analysis. The slope of the line is 1.00 +/- 0.05 (standard error), the intercept is approximately zero, the coefficient of determination is 0.994, and the standard error of the estimate is 0.006 microgram/mL.

Capillary gas chromatographic method for the determination of the thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist S-1452 and its metabolites in human urine

A capillary gas chromatographic method using a sulphur-specific detector (Hall's electrolytic conductivity detector) was established to determine the thromboxane A2 antagonist S-1452 and its metabolites in human urine. The target species were the free acid (+)-S-145 of the drug and its nine metabolites: the three hydroxyl forms of (+)-S-145 (I, II and III), bis-nor-(+)-S-145 (IV) the hydroxylated forms of IV (V and VI), tetranor-(+)-S-145 (VII) and the hydroxylated forms of VII (VIII and IX). These ten compounds, which have the same sulphur-containing functional group in common, were determined simultaneously. Their conjugated forms, which were assumed to be glucuronides, were also assayed after hydrolysis. The first derivatization was esterification with diazomethane. The second, for the hydroxylated compounds, was trimethylsilylation with bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide. The ten analytes appeared as separate peaks without mutual interference during 5 min. Hall's detector distinguished the ten analytes selectively from the other urinary components, which removed the need for complex clean-up procedures and led to higher sensitivity with a lower noise level. The method is sensitive enough for the assay of substances present at more than 0.1 micrograms/ml of urine. All the compounds could be determined with a high level of precision and accuracy, with 2-5% relative standard deviation and within +/- 5% deviation from the actual value. Day-to-day measurements verified the reproducibility of the method. Recovered substances were quantified by following the time course, and the analytical data together with previously obtained plasma data clarified the metabolism pharmacokinetically.

Confirmation testing of 11-nor-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid in urine with micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

The major urinary metabolite of the most commonly abused psychotropic drug, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is 11-nor-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH). With basic hydrolysis, extraction and concentration, this compound can easily be determined using micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography with on-column multi-wavelength detection. After solid-phase extraction of 5 ml of urine, drug concentrations down to about 10 ng/ml can be unambiguously monitored. Peak assignment is achieved through comparison of the retention time and absorption spectrum of the eluting THC-COOH peak with those of computer-stored model runs. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated with data obtained from urine samples from different patients which tested positively for cannabinoids using a fluorescence polarization immunoassay.