The direct immersion solid phase microextraction coupled with the LC–MS method for ex vivo determination of selected date-rape drugs in the human blood samples

Abstract

Nowadays, solid phase microextraction is developing rapidly. The use of this extraction technique allowed for the reduction of toxic solvents usage, easy automatization, and integration with other techniques. In this study, the use of DI-SPME/LC–MS to determine selected date-rape drugs (benzodiazepines, ketamine, and cocaine) is presented. The determined values of validation parameters: limits of detection (LOD = 0.6–4.9 ng cm−3), and quantification (LOQ = 25 or 50 ng cm−3), intra-day and inter-day precision (CV = 0.87–10.7% and 4.96–16.1%, respectively), recovery (RE = 94.6–106.7%) and matrix effect (81.7–116.5%) indicated that the tested method could be used to determine the concentration of date-rape drugs in blood samples. The evaluation of the method according to the principles of White Analytical Chemistry showed that the DI-SPME/LC–MS method was characterized by satisfactory analytical quality, greenness, and economical use. The use of this method met the requirements of Green Chemistry. The significant advantages of this method were the quick analytical procedure, partial automation of the extraction stages, high sensitivity, lower sample, and reagent consumption.Graphical abstract