GC-MS analysis of fluoxetine and its active metabolite norfluoxetine in human urine

Abstract

ABSTRACT: A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) method was developed for detection of fluoxetine and its active metabolite norfluoxetine in urine. Liquid and solid phase extraction were applied to urine samples using maprotiline as an internal standard (IS). The GC-MS analysis were carried out using HP-5MS capillary column. The linearity ranges of the method were 5-75 ng mL-1 for fluoxetine and 6-125 ng mL-1 for norfluoxetine by solid phase extraction (SPE), and 10-80 ng mL-1 for fluoxetine and also norfluoxetine by liquid- liquid extraction (LLE). Also the range of detection limits were between 1-10 ng mL-1, the range of quantification limits were between 5-10 ng mL-1 for fluoxetine and norfluoxetine by both SPE and LLE. The range of recoveries were between 87 -109 % by both SPE and LLE for analytes. The developed method allowed clinical and toxicological analysis of fluoxetine and norfluoxetine in urine samples. KEY WORDS: Fluoxetine; Norfluoxetine; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Liquid- Liquid Extraction; Solid-Phase Extraction.