Determination of trace levels of benzodiazepine in urine using capillary electrochromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry

Electrophoresis. 2008 May;29(10):2182-92. doi: 10.1002/elps.200700422.

Abstract

This paper details a method for the separation and determination of ten benzodiazepines in urine using CEC-MS(TOF) and an hexyl acrylate-based porous monolith. The TOF mass spectrometer provides an exact mass of protonated benzodiazepines to three decimal places (1-6 ppm). This high selectivity along with the CEC separation, provides an effective method for the identification of benzodiazepines. Linearity is satisfactory for all compounds in the concentration range of 25-500 ng/mL for lorazepam and 12.5-500 ng/mL for the others. The RSDs are between 1.4-2.3% for retention times and 1.1-9.2% for relative areas. Using the monolithic stationary phase, a preconcentration step is achievable and permits an 75-140-fold improvement in sensitivity. This strategy permits the quantification of these drugs down to 1 ng/mL in urine. This method was used for the analysis of benzodiazepines in spiked urine samples.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acrylates
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / urine
  • Benzodiazepines / chemistry
  • Benzodiazepines / urine*
  • Capillary Electrochromatography / instrumentation
  • Capillary Electrochromatography / methods*
  • Capillary Electrochromatography / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / methods*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Acrylates
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents
  • Benzodiazepines
  • hexyl acrylate