Detection of Quaternary Ammonium Drugs in Equine Urine by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Quaternary ammonium drugs are anticholinergic agents and some of which have been known to be abused in equine sports. A general screening method for this class of drugs in equine urine by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has not been reported. The paper describes an efficient LC-MS-MS method for the simultaneous detection and confirmation of twenty quaternary ammonium drugs at low ng mL^?1 in equine urine after solid-phase extraction. Quaternary ammonium drugs were extracted from equine urine by solid-phase extraction using ISOLUTE^® CBA SPE Columns and analysed by LC-MS-MS in the positive electrospray ionisation mode. Separation of twenty quaternary ammonium drugs (the quaternary ammonium ions of edrophonium chloride, pyridostigmine bromide, neostigmine bromide, bretylium tosylate, ipratropium bromide, tubocurarine chloride, N-butylscopolammonium bromide, mepenzolate bromide, rocuronium bromide, clidinium bromide, pipenzolate bromide, isopropamide iodide, glycopyrronium bromide, alcuronium chloride, oxyphenonium bromide, propantheline bromide, tridihexethyl chloride, vecuronium bromide, mivacurium chloride and pancuronium bromide) was achieved in a reversed phase column with a mixture of aqueous ammonium formate (pH 3.0, 10 mM) and acetonitrile as the mobile phase. Detection and confirmation of the twenty quaternary ammonium drugs at about 5 ng mL^?1 in equine urine could be achieved within 22 min using product-ion scan MS-MS. The target analytes were detected by examination of extracted-ion chromatograms of their product ions. Drugs spiked in different equine urine (n = 15) were consistently detected. Negative samples (n = 30) of normal post-race equine urine have also been analysed, no matrix interference at the targeted masses and retention times was observed. The method was successfully applied to the analyses of drug-administration samples. Other method validation data including reproducibility and recovery will also be presented. An LC-MS-MS method for the simultaneous detection and confirmation of twenty quaternary ammonium drugs in equine urine was developed. The methodology should be applicable to other biological matrices such as human urine.     

Single drop microextraction as a concentrating probe for rapid screening of low molecular weight drugs from human urine in atmospheric-pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

The present work reports the development of a new analytical procedure for simple and rapid screening of low molecular weight drugs (<500 Da) from human urine samples by atmospheric-pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (AP-MALDI-MS) combined with single drop microextraction (SDME). The success of the proposed method is due to the use of methyltrioctylammonium chloride (MTOAC) as additive to avoid the noise arising from the matrix ions (alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA)). SDME also aided in alleviating the interferences arising from other matrix ions present in the urine samples prior to AP-MALDI-MS analysis. Factors affecting the extraction efficiency of drugs, such as selection of solvent, stirring speed, extraction time, exposure volume of extraction phase and salt addition, have been optimized. The optimum molar ratio of CHCA/MTOAC that gave the minimum background noise of CHCA ions was 700:1. The limit of detection (LOD) and relative standard deviation (RSD) of the method were in the ranges 0.3-1.6 microM and 7.8-11.4%, respectively. The SDME method was compared with liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction (HF-LPME) to evaluate the compatibility of the present method in the extraction of drugs from urine samples. The role of MTOAC as matrix ion signal suppressor and SDME as analyte-separating device in the rapid screening of low molecular weight drugs from human urine samples using AP-MALDI/MS has been reported.     

Analyses of quaternary ammonium drugs in horse urine by capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry

A capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE-MS) method for the analysis of quaternary ammonium drugs in equine urine was developed. Quaternary ammonium drugs were first extracted from equine urine by ion-pair extraction and then analysed by CE-MS in the positive electrospray ionization (ESI) mode. Within 12 min, eight quaternary ammonium drugs, each at 1 ng/mL in horse urine, could be detected. The confirmation of these drugs in urine samples was achieved by capillary electrophoresis tandem mass spectrometry (CE-MS/MS). A direct comparison of this method was made with existing liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods in the detection and confirmation of glycopyrrolate and ipratropium bromide in horse urine. While the two drugs could be detected within the same CE-MS run at 1 ng/mL in urine, they could only be detected in separate LC-MS runs at 5 ng/mL in urine. In addition, CE-MS consumed a much smaller volume of extract; the analyte peak widths, in some cases, were much narrower; and as the quaternary ammonium ions were well separated electrophoretically from the mainly neutral urine matrix, a much cleaner background in the CE-MS total ion trace was observed.     

Efficiency of a miniaturized silica monolithic cartridge in reducing matrix ions as demonstrated in the simultaneous extraction of morphine and codeine from urine samples for quantification with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Presence of matrix ions could negatively affect the sensitivity and selectivity of liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometer (LC‐MS/MS). In this study, the efficiency of a miniaturized silica monolithic cartridge in reducing matrix ions was demonstrated in the simultaneous extraction of morphine and codeine from urine samples for quantification with LC‐MS. The miniaturized silica monolith with hydroxyl groups present on the largely exposed surface area function as a weak cation exchanger for solid phase extraction (SPE). The miniaturized silica cartridge in 1 cm diameter and 0.5 cm length was housed in a 2‐ml syringe fixed over a SPE vacuum manifold for extraction. The cleaning effectiveness of the cartridge was confirmed by osmometer, atomic absorption spectrometer, LC‐MS and GC‐TOFMS. The drugs were efficiently extracted from urine samples with recoveries ranging from 86% to 114%. The extracted analytes, after concentration and reconstitution, were quantified using LC‐MS/MS. The limits of detection for morphine and codeine were 2 ng/ml and 1 ng/mL, respectively. The relative standard deviations of measurements ranged from 3% to 12%. The monolithic sorbent offered good linearity with correlation coefficients > 0.99, over a concentration range of 50–500 ng/ml. The silica monolithic cartridge was found to be more robust than the particle‐based packed sorbent and also the commercial cartridge with regards to its recyclability and repeated usage with minimal loss in efficiency. Our study demonstrated the efficiency of the miniaturized silica monolith for removal of matrix ions and extraction of drugs of abuse in urinary screening. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mass spectrometric identification and characterization of a new long-term metabolite of metandienone in human urine

Anabolic-androgenic steroids are some of the most frequently detected drugs in amateur and professional sports. Doping control laboratories have developed numerous assays enabling the determination of administered drugs and/or their metabolic products that allow retrospectives with respect to pharmacokinetics and excretion profiles of steroids and their metabolites. A new metabolite generated from metandienone has been identified as 18-nor-17beta-hydroxymethyl,17alpha-methyl-androst-1,4,13-trien-3-one in excretion study urine samples providing a valuable tool for the long-term detection of metandienone abuse by athletes in sports drug testing. The metabolite was characterized using gas chromatography/(tandem) mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/high-resolution/high-accuracy (tandem) mass spectrometry by characteristic fragmentation patterns representing the intact 3-keto-1,4-diene structure in combination with typical product ions substantiating the proposed C/D-ring structure of the steroid metabolite. In addition, structure confirmation was obtained by the analysis of excretion study urine specimens obtained after administration of 17-CD(3)-labeled metandienone providing the deuterated analogue to the newly identified metabolite. 18-Nor-17beta-hydroxymethyl,17alpha-methyl-androst-1,4,13-trien-3-one was determined in metandienone administration study urine specimens up to 19 days after application of a single dose of 5 mg, hence providing an extended detection period compared with commonly employed strategies.     

An analytical strategy for quaternary ammonium neuromuscular blocking agents in a forensic setting using LC-MS/MS on a tandem quadrupole/time-of-flight instrument

An analytical strategy is described for analyzing quaternary ammonium neuromuscular blocking agents in a wide variety of biological specimens in a forensic setting. Neuromuscular blocking agents such as succinylcholine, pancuronium, and tubocurarine, often used as paralytic agents during surgery, are occasionally suspected as paralytic poisoning agents involved in suspected homicide and suicide cases. Because suspicion in such cases can develop slowly, the age, nature, and quality of available specimens varies greatly. The compounds are challenging analytically because of their simultaneous precharged yet lipophilic character. An analytical strategy has been devised for extracting these compounds from complex matrices using a combination of a modified Bligh and Dyer liquid-liquid extraction (used in reverse) followed by reverse-phase ion pairing solid-phase extraction using heptafluorobutyric acid as an ion pairing reagent. Final analysis is by LC-MS/MS using a tandem quadrupole orthogonal acceleration time of flight instrument (Q-TOF) with repetitive product ion scanning at high resolution. Native and spiked specimens are compared for both quantitative and especially qualitative purposes. The method has been applied to a wide variety of fluid and tissue specimen types, including numerous specimens from exhumation autopsies. For most specimens, detection limits are in the 2 to 10 ng/g range. Succinylmonocholine has been demonstrated to be present at low levels in normal posthumous kidney and liver. The Q-TOF is an excellent platform for forensic analytical investigations. This analytical strategy should also be applicable to other problematic analytes and sample matrices.     

Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry with ion trap and triple quadrupole analyzers for determination of thyreostatic drugs in urine and muscle tissue

Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry methods were developed and validated to screen for and confirm residues of the thyreostatic drugs: tapazole, thiouracil, methylthiouracil, propylthiouracil, and phenylthiouracil in bovine and porcine urine and muscle tissues using dimethylthiouracil as internal standard. Thyreostats were extracted from urine samples with diethyl ether after derivatisation with 3-iodobenzylbromide in basic medium (pH 8.0) and analyzed by gradient elution on a Nucleosil C18 column with ion trap mass spectrometry detection using an electrospray source and triple quadrupole MS detection with turbo spray source. Thyreostats were extracted from muscle tissue with methanol, the denaturation of matrix protein was performed and then the same steps as for the urine samples were carried out. The methods were validated in accordance with the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Good thyreostats recoveries were obtained (from 82% to 117%) as well as acceptable within-lab reproducibility. The values of the decision limit CCα and the detection capability CCβ of five thyreostatic drugs are found to be below the recommended concentration set at 10 μg L(-1) (kg(-1)). The results of the validation demonstrate that liquid chromatography mass spectrometry with ion trap detection does not meet the criteria for confirmation for some thyreostats and therefore was applied for screening purpose only.     

The role of alternative specimens in toxicological analysis

The use of alternative specimens in the field of toxicology was first described in 1979, when hair analysis was used to document chronic drug exposure. Since then, the use of these 'alternative' samples has gained tremendous importance in forensic toxicology, as well as in clinic toxicology, doping control and workplace drug testing. It is not surprising, therefore, that a large number of papers dealing with the determination of several classes of drugs in saliva, sweat, meconium and hair have been published ever since, owing to the fact that chromatographic equipment is becoming more and more sensitive, mass spectrometry (and tandem mass spectrometry) being the most widely used analytical tool, combined with gas or liquid chromatography. 'Alternative' specimens present a number of advantages over the 'traditional' samples normally used in toxicology (e.g. blood, urine and tissues), namely the fact that their collection is not invasive, their adulteration is difficult, and they may allow increased windows of detection for certain drugs. The main disadvantage of this kind of samples is that drugs are present in very low concentrations, and therefore high-sensitivity techniques are required to accomplish the analysis. This paper reviews a series of publications on the use of alternative specimens, with special focus on the main analytical and chromatographic problems that these samples present, as well on their advantages and disadvantages over traditional samples in documenting drug exposure.     

Concentration profiles of cocaine, pyrolytic methyl ecgonidine and thirteen metabolites in human blood and urine: determination by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

When cocaine is smoked, a pyrolytic product, methyl ecgonidine (anhydroecgonine methyl ester), is also consumed with the cocaine. The amount of methyl ecgonidine formed depends on the pyrolytic conditions and composition of the illicit cocaine. This procedure describes detection of cocaine and 10 metabolites--cocaethylene, nor-cocaine, nor-cocaethylene, methyl ecgonine, ethyl ecgonine, benzoylecgonine, nor-benzoylecgonine, m-hydroxybenzoylecgonine, p-hydroxybenzoylecgonine and ecgonine--in blood and urine. In addition, the detection of pyrolytic methyl ecgonidine and three metabolites--ecgonidine (anhydroecgonine), ethyl ecgonidine (anhydroecgonine ethyl ester) and nor-ecgonidine (nor-anhydroecgonine)--are included. The newly described metabolites, ethyl ecgonidine and nor-ecgonidine, were synthesized and characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). All 15 compounds were extracted from 3 mL of blood or urine by solid-phase extraction and identified by a GC-MS method. The overall recoveries were 49% for methyl ecgonine, 35% for ethyl ecgonine, 29% for ecgonine and more than 83% for all other drugs. The limits of detection were between 0.5 and 4.0 ng/mL except for ecgonine, which was 16 ng/mL. Linearity for each analyte was established and in all cases correlation coefficients were 0.9985-1.0000. The procedure was applied to examine the concentration profiles of analytes of interest in post-mortem (PM) blood and urine, and in urine collected from living individuals (LV). These specimens previously were shown to be positive for the cocaine metabolite, benzoylecgonine. Ecgonidine, the major metabolite of methyl ecgonidine, was present in 77% of PM and 88% of the LV specimens, indicating smoking as the major route of cocaine administration. The new pyrolytic metabolites, ethyl ecgonidine and nor-ecgonidine, were present in smaller amounts. The urine concentrations of nor-ecgonidine were 0-163 ng/mL in LV and 0-75 ng/mL in PM specimens. Ethyl ecgonidine was found only in PM urine at concentrations 0-39 ng/mL. Ethanol-related cocaine metabolites, ethyl ecgonine or cocaethylene, were present in 69% of PM and 53% of cocaine-positive LV specimens, implying alcohol consumption with cocaine use. The four major metabolites of cocaine--benzoylecgonine, ecgonine, nor-benzoylecgonine and methyl ecgonine--constituted approximately 88 and 97% of all metabolites in PM and LV specimens, respectively. The concentrations of nor-cocaine and nor-cocaethylene were consistently the lowest of all cocaine metabolites. At benzoylecgonine concentrations below 100 ng/mL, ecgonine was present at the highest concentrations. In 20 urine specimens, benzoylecgonine and ecgonine median concentrations (range) were 54 (0-47) and 418 ng/mL (95-684), respectively. Therefore, detection of ecgonine is advantageous when benzoylecgonine concentrations are below 100 ng/mL.     

Multi-residue analysis of pharmaceuticals in wastewater by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

In this work, a new multi-residue method using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOF-MS) was developed for screening and confirmation of 29 pharmaceutical compounds belonging to different therapeutical classes: analgesics and antiinflammatories, lipid regulating agents cholesterol lowering statin agents, psychiatric drugs, anti ulcer agents, histamine H2 receptor antagonist, antibiotics and beta-blockers. UPLC uses columns packed with 1.7 microm particles and enables elution of sample components in much narrower, more concentrated bands, resulting in better chromatographic resolution and increased peak height. The typical peak width was 5-10s at base, permitting very good separation of all compounds in 10 min, which represented an approximate three-fold reduction in the analysis time in comparison to conventional high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Unequivocal identification of target pharmaceutical compounds was based on accurate mass measurement of the molecular ions in the TOF mode and by performing collision induced dissociation (CID) in the Q-TOF mode in order to generate accurate mass measurement of the product ions. Using lock mass correction the accurate masses calculated for the product ions deviated from the theoretical masses by 0.2 to 1.3 mDa (root mean square (RMS) value=0.67) and 0.7-6.4 ppm (RMS=3.53), respectively. Quantitation was carried out working in the TOF mode using the narrow window extracted ion chromatograms (nwXICs) of each compound (extracted using a 20 mDa window) yielding relative standard deviation (RSD) from 0.5 to 5.3% (run-to-run) and from 2.1 to 9.1% (day-to-day) and instrumental detection limits (IDLs) from 1 to 200 pg. Analysis of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) samples gave method detection limits (MDLs) ranging from 10 to 500 ng/L. The UPLC-Q-TOF method was successfully applied to analyze pharmaceutical residues in WWTP samples.     

生物检材中芬太尼类物质检测方法研究进展

就芬太尼类物质的代谢及近年来对常见生物检材中此类物质的前处理方法及检测方法进行了综述.常见的生物检材有血液、尿液、毛发,这几种检材都具有各自的检测优势和不足.毒品在血液中代谢速度快,代谢产物浓度高,但对检测时效性要求较高;尿液检测前处理简单,代谢产物易检测,但存在易污染、造假的问题;毛发检测不受其他药物影响,可追溯半年...     

High-Throughput Screening of Drugs of Abuse in Urine by Supported Liquid–Liquid Extraction and UHPLC Coupled to Tandem MS

A qualitative method, involving supported liquid–liquid extraction (SLE) and ultra high pressure liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS–MS), was developed for the rapid tentative identification of various drugs of abuse in urine. In this study, 28 drugs and metabolites were covered by the screening procedure. Before analysis, urine samples were extracted by SLE and good extraction recoveries were obtained for most investigated compounds. The UHPLC strategy was then selected for the rapid separation of amphetamines, cocaine, opiates and related compounds in urine. Using columns packed with sub-2 µm particles, analysis time was reduced down to 2 min, while maintaining acceptable performance. Finally, the detection was by tandem MS operating in the single reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. The most intense transition was selected for the different drugs and SRM dwell times set at 5 ms, to maintain sufficient data points across the narrow UHPLC peaks. The tentative identification of the drugs of interest, including amphetamines, opiates and cocaine, was based on both, retention times and mass spectrometry information. With the proposed method, limits of detection were estimated at about 1 ng mL^?1 and the applicability was assessed by successfully analyzing several samples of drug abusers. Finally, this study demonstrates the potential of UHPLC coupled to tandem MS for the rapid screening of drugs of abuse in urine.     

Rapid method for the measurement of methylprednisolone and its hemisuccinate in plasma and urine following "pulse therapy" by high-performance liquid chromatography

A rapid method for the measurement of methylprednisolone and its 21-hemisuccinate ester in plasma and urine following high dose pulse therapy is described. The drugs were extracted using Extrelut columns, eluted with ethyl acetate which was evaporated to dryness and the residue was reconstituted in chromatographic mobile phase. High-performance liquid chromatography was performed on a reversed-phase column using a mobile phase of acetonitrile-acetate buffer with detection at 251 nm. No interference from any drugs or endogenous compounds has been observed. The method has been used to analyse over 200 plasma and 150 urine samples from patients with rheumatoid disease or renal failure who have received high dose methylprednisolone hemisuccinate infusions.     

A novel microextraction by packed sorbent–gas chromatography procedure for the simultaneous analysis of antiepileptic drugs in human plasma and urine

A simple, accurate, and sensitive microextraction by packed sorbent–gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry method has been developed for the simultaneous quantification of four antiepileptic drugs; oxcarbazepine, carbamazepine, phenytoin, and alprazolam in human plasma and urine as a tool for drug monitoring. Caffeine was used as internal standards for the electron ionization mode. An original pretreatment procedure on biological samples, based on microextraction in packed syringe using C₁₈ as packing material gave high extraction yields (69.92–99.38%), satisfactory precision (RSD < 4.7%) and good selectivity. Linearity was found in the 0.1–500 ng/mL range for these drugs with limits of detection (LODs) between 0.0018 and 0.0036 ng/mL. Therefore, the method has been found to be suitable for the therapeutic drug monitoring of patients treated with oxcarbazepine, carbamazepine, phenytoin, and alprazolam. After validation, the method was successfully applied to some plasma samples from patients undergoing therapy with one or more of these drugs. A comparison of the detection limit with similar methods indicates high sensitivity of the present method over the earlier reported methods. The present method is applied for the analysis of these drugs in the real urine and plasma samples of the epileptic patients.     

Screening for unknown synthetic steroids in human urine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Chemically modified steroids (designer steroids), including tetrahydrogestrinone and norbolethone, pose a threat to the integrity of the sport community. These compounds have recently been detected in urine specimens from athletes, resulting in temporary or permanent suspension from amateur and/or professional competition. Triple quadrupole mass spectrometers enable doping control laboratories to screen for unknown, anabolic, androgenic steroids utilizing precursor ion scans. On the basis of common dissociation patterns of steroids with common structural features, characteristic product ions were selected to serve as diagnostic markers for previously unidentified drugs or drug metabolites in human urine samples. An assay was established to complement standard screening procedures. Urine specimens were enzymically hydrolyzed, partitioned into ether, concentrated, and analyzed by precursor ion scanning. Spectra from samples fortified with eight standard compounds (methyltestosterone, ethyltestosterone, 1-testosterone, gestrinone, dihydrogestrinone, tetrahydrogestrinone, norbolethone, and propyltrenbolone) and one deuterium-labeled analog (d(4)-tetrahydrogestrinone) at 50 ng/ml of urine, had precursor ion peaks other than those from common endogenous steroids. Subsequent product ion scan experiments on precursor ions of peaks of unknown origin provided structural identification of the unknown compounds.     

Liquid-phase microextraction and capillary electrophoresis of acidic drugs

Vial liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) combined with capillary electrophoresis (CE) was evaluated for the determination of the acidic drugs ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen present in water samples and in human urine. The 2.5 mL samples containing the drugs were filled into conventional vials and subsequently acidified by 250 microL of 1-10 M HCl. Porous hollow fibers of polypropylene containing 25 microL of an aqueous solution of 0.01-0.1 M NaOH (acceptor solution) and with dihexyl ether immobilized in the pores of the wall were placed into each of the samples. The acidic drugs were extracted from the acidified sample solutions into the dihexyl ether phase, in the pores of the hollow fiber, and further into the alkaline acceptor solution forced by high partition coefficients. The drugs were extracted almost quantitatively (75-100% extraction efficiency) from the 2.5 mL samples and into the 25 microL acceptor solutions, providing 75-100 times preconcentration. The acceptor solutions were collected for automated CE analysis, which enabled the drugs to be detected down to the 1 ng/mL level.     

Detection of β-blocking drugs in urine by capillary column gas chromatography-negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry

β-Blocking drugs present in commercial pharmaceutical products are determined in present urine of volunteers between 4 and 24 hours after the administration of a therapeutical dose. The drugs are extracted, hydrolysed, derivatized with pentafluoropropionic anhydride, and analyzed by capillary gas chromatography and electron capture detection. Metabolite identification and drug confirmation is by capillary gas chromatography–negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry (GC-NICIMS). This method is very specific and a sensitivity below 1 ng/ml is obtained.     

Solid phase micro-extraction coupled with ion mobility spectrometry for the analysis of ephedrine in urine

Quantitative solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) coupled with ion mobility spectrometry is demonstrated using the analysis of ephedrine in urine. Since its inception in the 1970's ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) has evolved into a useful technique for laboratories to detect explosives, chemical warfare agents, environment pollutants and, increasingly, for detecting drugs of abuse. Ephedrine is extracted directly from urine samples using SPME and the analyte on the fiber is heated by the IMS desorber unit and vaporized into the drift tube. The analytical procedure was optimized for fiber coating selection, extraction temperature, extraction time, sample pH, and analyte desorption temperature. The carryover effects, ion fragmentation characteristics, peak shapes, and drift times of ephedrine were also evaluated based on the direct interfacing of SPME to IMS. A limit of detection of 50 ng/mL of ephedrine in urine and a linear range of 3 orders of magnitude were obtained, showing that SPME-IMS compares well to other techniques for ephedrine and drug analysis presented in the literature.     

Determination of phenothiazines in human body fluids by solid-phase microextraction and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Eleven phenothiazine derivatives with heavy side-chains were found to be extractable from human whole blood and urine samples by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) with a polyacrylate-coated fiber. The fiber was then injected into the desorption chamber of an SPME-liquid chromatography (LC) interface for LC/tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) with positive ion electrospray (ES) ionization. All compounds formed base peaks due to [M + 1](+) ions by LC/ES-MS/MS. By use of LC/ES-MS/MS, the product ions produced from each [M + 1](+) ion showed base peaks due to side-chain liberation. Selected reaction monitoring (SRM) and selected ion monitoring (SIM) were compared for the detection of the 11 phenothiazine derivatives from human whole blood and urine. SRM showed much higher sensitivity than SIM for both types of sample. Therefore, a detailed procedure for the detection of drugs by SRM with SPME-LC/MS/MS was established and carefully validated. The extraction efficiencies of the 11 phenothiazine derivatives spiked into whole blood and urine were 0. 0002-0.12 and 2.6-39.8%, respectively. The regression equations for the 11 phenothiazine derivatives showed excellent linearity with detection limits of 0.2-200 ng ml(-1) for whole blood and 4-22 pg ml(-1) for urine. The intra- and inter-day precisions for whole blood and urine samples were not greater than 15.1%. The data obtained after oral administration of perazine or flupentixol to a male subject are presented.