Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Quantification of 31 illicit and medicinal drugs and metabolites in whole blood by fully automated solid-phase extraction and ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An efficient method for analyzing illegal and medicinal drugs in whole blood using fully automated sample preparation and short ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) run time is presented. A selection of 31 drugs, including amphetamines, cocaine, opioids, and benzodiazepines, was used. In order to increase the efficiency of routine analysis, a robotic system based on automated liquid handling and capable of handling all unit operation for sample preparation was built on a Freedom Evo 200 platform with several add-ons from Tecan and third-party vendors. Solid-phase extraction was performed using Strata X-C plates. Extraction time for 96 samples was less than 3 h. Chromatography was performed using an ACQUITY UPLC system (Waters Corporation, Milford, USA). Analytes were separated on a 100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm Acquity UPLC CSH C18 column using a 6.5 min 0.1 % ammonia (25 %) in water/0.1 % ammonia (25 %) in methanol gradient and quantified by MS/MS (Waters Quattro Premier XE) in multiple-reaction monitoring mode. Full validation, including linearity, precision and trueness, matrix effect, ion suppression/enhancement of co-eluting analytes, recovery, and specificity, was performed. The method was employed successfully in the laboratory and used for routine analysis of forensic material. In combination with tetrahydrocannabinol analysis, the method covered 96 % of cases involving driving under the influence of drugs. The manual labor involved in preparing blood samples, solvents, etc., was reduced to a half an hour per batch. The automated sample preparation setup also minimized human exposure to hazardous materials, provided highly improved ergonomics, and eliminated manual pipetting.

Robotic setup for fully automated solid-phase extraction of whole blood

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

Reference

  1. Peters FT (2011) Clin Biochem 44:54–65

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Kraemer T, Paul LD (2007) Anal Bioanal Chem 388:1415–1435

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Maurer HH (2005) Anal Bioanal Chem 381:110–118

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Simonsen KW, Hermansson S, Steentoft A, Linnet K (2010) J Anal Toxicol 34:332–341

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ishida T, Kudo K, Hayashida M, Ikeda N (2009) J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 877:2652–2657

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Kratzsch C, Tenberken O, Peters FT, Weber AA, Kraemer T, Maurer HH (2004) J Mass Spectrom 39:856–872

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Laloup M, Ramirez Fernandez MM, De BG, Wood M, Maes V, Samyn N (2005) J Anal Toxicol 29:616–626

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Smink BE, Brandsma JE, Dijkhuizen A, Lusthof KJ, de Gier JJ, Egberts AC, Uges DR (2004) J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 811:13–20

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Concheiro M, de Castro A, Quintela O, Lopez-Rivadulla M, Cruz A (2006) J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 832:81–89

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Mortier KA, Maudens KE, Lambert WE, Clauwaert KM, Van Bocxlaer JF, Deforce DL, Van Peteghem CH, De Leenheer AP (2002) J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 779:321–330

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Musshoff F, Trafkowski J, Kuepper U, Madea B (2006) J Mass Spectrom 41:633–640

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Badawi N, Simonsen KW, Steentoft A, Bernhoft IM, Linnet K (2009) Clin Chem 55:2004–2018

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Langel K, Gunnar T, Ariniemi K, Rajamaki O, Lillsunde P (2011) J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 879:859–870

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Wood M, Laloup M, Ramirez Fernandez MM, Jenkins KM, Young MS, Ramaekers JG, De BG, Samyn N (2005) Forensic Sci Int 150:227–238

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Maralikova B, Weinmann W (2004) J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 811:21–30

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Bjørk M, Nielsen M, Markussen L, Klinke H, Linnet K (2010) Anal Bioanal Chem 396:2393–2401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Oiestad EL, Johansen U, Oiestad AM, Christophersen AS (2011) J Anal Toxicol 35:280–293

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Robandt PP, Reda LJ, Klette KL (2008) J Anal Toxicol 32:577–585

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Jagerdeo E, Schaff JE, Montgomery MA, LeBeau MA (2009) Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 23:2697–2705

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Jagerdeo E, Montgomery MA, LeBeau MA, Sibum M (2008) J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 874:15–20

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Vogeser M, Spohrer U (2006) Clin. Chem. Lab Med 44:1126–1130

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Andersen D, Rasmussen B, Linnet K (2012) J Anal Toxicol 36:280–287

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Vogeser M, Kirchhoff F (2011) Clin Biochem 44:4–13

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. SANCO, Off.J.Eur.Commun. 221 (2008) 8

  25. Peters FT, Drummer OH, Musshoff F (2007) Forensic Sci Int 165:216–224

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Peters FT, Remane D (2012) Anal Bioanal Chem 403:2155–2172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Matuszewski BK, Constanzer ML, Chavez-Eng CM (2003) Anal Chem 75:3019–3030

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Winek CL, Wahba WW, Winek CL Jr, Balzer TW (2001) Forensic Sci Int 122:107–123

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Schulz M, Schmoldt A (2003) Pharmazie 58:447–474

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Allen KR (2006) Clin Toxicol (Phila) 44:147–153

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank Suzanne Nielsen, Marianne Rosenberg, and Jonas T. Froholdt for excellent technical assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Forensic Chemistry, Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederik V’s vej 11, 3, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Marie Kjærgaard Bjørk, Kirsten Wiese Simonsen, David Wederkinck Andersen, Petur Weihe Dalsgaard, Stella Rögn Sigurðardóttir, Kristian Linnet & Brian Schou Rasmussen

Authors
  1. Marie Kjærgaard Bjørk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kirsten Wiese Simonsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. David Wederkinck Andersen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Petur Weihe Dalsgaard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Stella Rögn Sigurðardóttir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Kristian Linnet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Brian Schou Rasmussen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brian Schou Rasmussen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bjørk, M.K., Simonsen, K.W., Andersen, D.W. et al. Quantification of 31 illicit and medicinal drugs and metabolites in whole blood by fully automated solid-phase extraction and ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem 405, 2607–2617 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-012-6670-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-012-6670-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation