Solid phase microextraction with liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry for analysis of amphetamine and methamphetamine in serum

Abstract

This investigation evaluates solid phase microextraction (SPME) combined with liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI–MS/MS) to determine trace levels of amphetamine (AM) and methamphetamine (MA) in serum. Chromatography was performed on a C 18 reversed-phase column using a linear gradient of acetonitrile–water as a mobile phase. Using sample extraction by SPME at optimum conditions, analytes were desorbed with static desorption in SPME–HPLC desorption chamber for 1 min and then determined with LC–ESI–MS/MS. The detection limits for amphetamine and methamphetamine in serum were 0.3 μg/L and 0.04 μg/L, respectively. According to the analysis, the linearity range is from 0.5 μg/L to 200 μg/L with R.S.D. values below 8%. The feasibility of applying the methods to determine amphetamine and methamphetamine in real samples was examined by analyzing serum samples from methamphetamine abused suspects.