Determination of <I>β</I><SUB>2</SUB>-agonists and <I>β</I>-blockers in urine using high performance liquid chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry

Abstract

A method has been developed for the determination of 23 beta2-agonists and 5 beta-blockers in urine samples using high performance liquid chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry (HPLC-IT-MS). Urine samples were first deproteinized by high-speed frozen centrifugation, and the supernatants were loaded on an Extrelut diatomite column for clean-up. The analytes were eluted by ethyl acetate and concentrated for further analysis. The analytical separation was performed on an AtlantisT3-150 mm chromatographic column with the gradient elution using methanol and water (containing 0.1% formic acid). The detection was carried on a linear ion trap mass spectrometer under multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with the source operated in positive mode of electrospray ionization (ESI+). Nine deuterium labeled beta2-agonists were used as internal standards for quantitative analysis. The results showed that the linear ranges for 23 beta2-agonists and 5 beta-blockers were 0.005-0.16 mg/L, and the limits of detection were all around 0.2 microg/L. The mixed standard solution was added into the blank urine samples, and the recoveries of 23 beta2-agonists and 5 beta-blockers were ranged from 57.1% to 127.7% with the relative standard deviations of 1.1%-31.1%. The results demonstrate that the method is easy, fast, sensitive, and suitable for the confirmation and quantification of 23 beta2-agonists and 5 beta-blockers in urine samples.