在线固相萃取净化-高效液相色谱法测定人血浆中的霉酚酸

建立了在线固相萃取净化-高效液相色谱法联用(Online SPE-HPLC)测定人血浆中霉酚酸浓度的分析方法。联用系统以Capcell PAK MF Ph-1为净化柱,Poroshell 120?EC-C₁₈为分析柱,血浆样品经甲醇沉淀蛋白后,直接进样分析。结果表明,霉酚酸在0.20～50.00μg/mL范围内线性关系良好,相关系数(r)为0.999 8,检出限和定量下限分别为0.07、0.20μg/mL。在0.39、25.00、50.00μg/mL 3个质量浓度下的平均回收率为96.2%～105%,日内和日间相对标准偏差(RSD)分别为2.6%～3.1%和2.9%～3.3%。该法操作简便、快速,可用于人血浆中霉酚酸浓度的分析。     

Rapid gas chromatography/mass spectrometry quinine determination in plasma after automated solid-phase extraction

The combined use of an automatic solid-phase extraction (SPE) apparatus with Oasis MCX cartridges and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to rapidly quantify quinine in biological samples with cyproheptadine as the internal standard is described. The selected ion monitoring mode, with the quantification ions m/z 136 and 287 (qualifier ions: m/z 261, 381 and 215, 96), allows the estimation of quinine levels, respectively. Separation was completed within 12.7 min. Excellent linearity was found up to 10 000 microg/L of plasma. The limit of detection (LOD) was 12.2 microg/L and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 40.6 microg/L. High reproducibility (intra-assay CV range 1.9-4.3%, inter-assay CV range 2.2-11.3%) and accuracy values (intra-assay range 83.2-103.7%, inter-assay range 86.8-103.7%) were obtained. Recoveries were concentration-independent (97.2% and 89.8% for 4000 and 10 000 microg/L, respectively). This sensitive, simple assay for quinine in various matrices meets the current requirements for bioanalytical assays and may be used to monitor quinine levels in patients developing severe malaria with acute renal failure during hemofiltration. The optimal quinine dose in this situation is not really established and to improve clinical care, quinine concentrations might be explored to improve efficacy and minimise potential toxicity.     

Negative ion chemical ionization for the determination of methylphenidate in human plasma by stable isotope dilution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A sensitive and specific method for the determination of methylphenidate in human plasma is presented. Methylphenidate was extracted from plasma by solvent extraction with hexane at pH 9.3 and derivatized to its heptafluorobutyrate derivative. The derivative was measured by gas chromatography/negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry without any further purification. Using this detection mode, a diagnostically useful fragment ion at m/z 369 was obtained at high relative abundance. (18)O(2)-labelled methylphenidate was used as an internal standard and its rapid and facile preparation from the unlabeled compound is described. Calibration graphs were linear within the range 0.14-18.25 ng ml(-1). The inter-assay precision was 8.7% (0.14 ng ml(-1)) and 3.1% (4.56 ng ml(-1)) and the intra-assay variability was 1.3% (0.14 ng ml(-1)) and 0.4% (4.56 ng ml(-1)). Accuracy determinations showed deviations of +0.7% (0.14 ng ml(-1)) and -2.5% (4.56 ng ml(-1)). The method is rugged, rapid and robust and has been applied to the batch analysis of methylphenidate during pharmacokinetic profiling of the drug.     

Quantitative gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis of morphine glucuronides in human plasma by negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry

A sensitive and specific method for the determination of morphine glucuronides in human plasma is presented. Morphine glucuronides, namely morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) and morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G), were extracted from plasma by solid-phase extraction on C(18) cartridges at pH 9.3 and derivatized to their pentafluorobenzyl ester trimethylsilyl ether derivatives. The compounds were measured by gas chromatography/negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry without any further purification. Using this detection mode, a diagnostic useful fragment ion at m/z 748 was obtained at high relative abundance for both target compounds. [(2)H(3)]-labeled morphine glucuronides were used as internal standards. Calibration graphs were calculated by polynomial fit within a range of 10-1280 and 15-1920 nmol l(-1) for the 6- and 3-glucuronide, respectively. At the limit of quantitation (LOQ), the inter-assay precision was 2.21% (M3G) and 2.23% (M6G) and the GC/MS assay variability was 1.8% (M3G) and 0.9% (M6G). The accuracy at the LOQ showed deviations of +4.92% (M3G) and +1.5% (M6G). The sample recovery after solid-phase extraction was 84.7% for both M3G and M6G. The method is rugged, rapid and robust and has been applied to the batch analysis of morphine glucuronides during pharmacokinetic profiling of the drugs.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of memantine hydrochloride in rat plasma using sensitive fluorometric derivatization

In this study, we investigated a simple, sensitive and reliable liquid chromatography‐fluorescence detection method for the determination of memantine hydrochloride in rat plasma which was based on derivatization with 9‐fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOC‐Cl). For the first time, FMOC‐Cl was introduced into derivatization of memantine hydrochloride in rat plasma. The amino groups of memantine hydrochloride and amantadine hydrochloride (internal standard) were trapped with FMOC‐Cl to form memantine hydrochloride‐FMOC‐Cl and amantadine hydrochloride‐FMOC‐Cl compositions, which can be very compatible for LC‐FLD. Precipitation of plasma proteins by acetonitrile was followed by vortex mixing and centrifugation. Chromatographic separation was performed on a C₁₈ column (DIAMONSIL 150×4.6 mm, id 5 μm) with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The retention times of memantine hydrochloride‐FMOC‐Cl and amantadine hydrochloride‐FMOC‐Cl compositions were 23.69 and 40.27 min, respectively. Optimal conditions for the derivatization of memantine hydrochloride were also described. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 25 ng/mL for memantine hydrochloride in plasma, the linear range was 0.025–5.0 μg/mL in plasma with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.9999. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of intra‐day and inter‐day assays were 4.46–12.19 and 5.23–11.50%, respectively. The validated method was successfully applied to the determination of memantine hydrochloride in rat plasma samples.     

Determination of levetiracetam in human plasma by liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry and its application to bioequivalence studies

The first liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method for the determination of levetiracetam, an antiepileptic drug, in human plasma is described. The plasma filtrate obtained after solid-phase extraction (SPE), using a polymer-based, hydrophilic-lipophilic balanced (HLB) cartridge, was submitted directly to a short column LC/MS/MS assay. There was no significant matrix effect on the analysis. For validation of the method, the recovery of the free analytes was compared to that from an optimized extraction method, and the analyte stability was examined under conditions mimicking sample storage, handling, and analytical procedures. The extraction procedure yielded extremely clean extracts with a recovery of 79.95% and 89.02% for levetiracetam and the internal standard (IS), respectively. The intra-assay and inter-assay precision for the samples at the lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) were 6.33 and 6.82%, respectively. The calibration curves were linear for the dynamic range of 0.5 to 50 microg/mL with a correlation coefficient r >/= 0.9971. The intra-assay accuracy at LLOQ, LQC, MQC, and HQC levels ranged from 81.60 to 95.40, 93.00 to 103.47, 95.97 to 104.09, and 91.15 to 95.18%, respectively, while the inter-assay accuracy at LLOQ, LQC, MQC and HQC levels varied from 80.20 to 95.40, 88.53 to 107.53, 95.97 to 108.45, and 91.15 to 112.70%, respectively. The method is rugged and fast with a total instrumental run time of 2 min. The method was successfully applied for bioequivalence studies in human subject samples after oral administration of 1000 mg immediate release (IR) formulations.     

A rapid and specific approach for direct measurement of pravastatin concentration in plasma by LC-MS/MS employing solid-phase extraction

A rapid, specific and sensitive LC-MS/MS assay using solid-phase extraction (SPE) for the determination of pravastatin, in human plasma is described. The plasma filtrate obtained after SPE, using a polymer base, a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) cartridge, was submitted directly to short-column liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) assay, with negligible matrix effect on the analysis. For validation of the method, the recovery of the free analytes was compared with that from an optimized extraction method, and the analyte stability was examined under conditions mimicking the sample storage, handling, and analysis procedures. The extraction procedure yielded extremely clean extracts with a recovery of 107.44 and 98.93% for pravastatin and IS, respectively. The intra-assay and inter-assay precisions for the samples at the LLOQ were 3.30 and 7.31% respectively. The calibration curves were linear for the dynamic range 0.5-200 ng/mL with correlation coefficient r > or = 0.9988. The intra- and inter-assay accuracy ranged from 95.87 to 112.40%. The method is simple and reliable with a total run time of 3 min. This novel validated method was applied to the pharmacokinetic (PK) study in human volunteers receiving a single oral dose of 40 mg immediate release (IR) formulation.     

Simultaneous determination of allantoin, hypoxanthine, xanthine, and uric acid in serum/plasma by CE

Allantoin (All) is an oxidative end product of purines in mammals. The small amount of All present in human plasma or serum results from free radical action on urate and may provide a stable marker of in vivo free radical activity. Because free radicals have been implicated in the development and progression of atherosclerosis, this study focused on the metabolic compounds of the All pathway. We propose a new fast CE (CE/UV) method for the simultaneous determination of All, uric acid (UA), hypoxanthine (HX), and xanthine (X) in human plasma. These products were quantified in the plasma of patients with chronic renal failure before hemodialysis (n = 6), patients with chronic heart failure (n = 6) and controls (n = 6). The filtered plasma were diluted ten-fold before the direct injection in CE/UV (195 nm), which allows separating the four compounds in less than 13 min. The metabolites were detectable at concentrations of 0.3-0.6 micromol/L. The method was linear over the range 0.5-150 micromol/L for All, HX, and X and 10-1500 micromol/L for UA (r > 0.99). The analytical performance of this method is satisfactory with intra-assay CV < 3.4%, inter-assay CV < 5% (HX and X < 7%), and recovery (93-101%). The proposed CE-UV method appears to be a useful tool for studying physiological and pathological changes of HX, UA, and All levels in plasma samples, the latter being a possible indicator of free radical damage in vivo.     

A high-throughput, fully automated liquid/liquid extraction liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method for the quantitation of a new investigational drug ABT-869 and its metabolite A-849529 in human plasma samples

ABT-869 is a novel ATP-competitive inhibitor for all the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). It is one of the oncology drugs in development at Abbott Laboratories and has great potential for enhanced anti-tumor efficacy as well as activity in a broad range of human cancers. We report here an accurate, precise and rugged liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) assay for the quantitative measurement of ABT-869 and its acid metabolite A-849529. A fully automated 96-well liquid/liquid extraction method was achieved utilizing a Hamilton liquid handler. The only manual intervention required prior to LC/MS/MS injection is to transfer the 96-well plate to a drying rack to dry the extracts then transfer the plate back to the Hamilton for robotic reconstitution. The linear dynamic ranges were from 1.1 to 598.8 ng/mL for ABT-869 and from 1.1 to 605.8 ng/mL for A-849529. The coefficient of determination (r2) for all analytes was greater than 0.9995. For the drug ABT-869, the intra-assay coefficient of variance (CV) was between 0.4% and 3.7% and the inter-assay CV was between 0.9% and 2.8%. The inter-assay mean accuracy, expressed as percent of theoretical, was between 96.8% and 102.2%. For the metabolite A-849529, the intra-assay CV was between 0.5% and 5.1% and the inter-assay CV was between 0.8% and 4.9%. The inter-assay mean accuracy, expressed as percent of theoretical, was between 96.9% and 100.6%.     

Determination of belfosdil, a new calcium channel blocker, in human plasma by capillary gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection

Belfosdil and the internal standard were extracted from human plasma by a double liquid-liquid extraction. After a concentration step, gas chromatographic analysis of the sample was performed using a capillary fused-silica column and a nitrogen-phosphorus detector. The limit of detection of belfosdil was 0.025 ng/ml and the standard curve was linear over the range 0.05-100 ng/ml. The intra-assay and inter-assay precisions were within 7% (relative standard deviation) and the intra-assay and inter-assay accuracy values deviated by less than 5%. The extractability of belfosdil was 79%. The assay method was successfully used for the analysis of plasma samples from clinical studies with dose ranges of 5-100 mg of belfosdil.     

Determination of lopinavir and ritonavir in blood plasma, seminal plasma, saliva and plasma ultra-filtrate by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry detection

A method based on liquid-liquid extraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with positive ion electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) detection was developed for the simultaneous determination of lopinavir (LPV) and ritonavir (RTV) in human blood, semen and saliva samples. The acquisition was performed in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode, monitoring the transitions: m/z 629 > 447.1 for LPV, 721.18 > 268.02 for RTV and m/z 747.22 > 322.03 for the internal standard (IS). The limit of quantification was 1 ng/mL for both analytes in all matrices. The method was linear in the studied range (1-2000 ng/mL for LPV and 1-200 ng/mL for RTV), with r2 > 0.99 for each drug, and the run time was 4.5 min. The intra-assay precisions (%) were in the ranges of 0.1-14.2 (LPV) and 0.4-12.7 (RTV), the inter-assay precisions were in the ranges of 2.8-15.3 (LPV) and 1.1-12.8 (RTV) and the intra-and inter-assay recoveries were >85% for both drugs. The extraction efficiencies were 73.5-118.4% for LPV and 74.4-126.2% for RTV. The analytical method was applied to measure LPV and RTV concentrations in blood plasma (total and unbound fraction), saliva and semen of six HIV+ individuals under stable treatment with Kaletra soft gel capsules. The results were consistent with previously published data.     

Profiling histidine-containing dipeptides in rat tissues by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

The histidine-containing dipeptides carnosine (CAR) and structurally related anserine (ANS) and homocarnosine (HCAR), widely distributed in vertebrate organisms, have recently been proposed as endogenous quenchers for highly cytotoxic alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes generated by peroxidation. A sensitive, selective, specific and rapid liquid chromatographic/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric assay was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of these peptides in biological matrices in order to establish their plasma/tissue distribution. Samples (plasma or tissue homogenates from male rats) were prepared by protein precipitation with HClO(4) (1 : 1, v/v) containing H-Tyr-His-OH as internal standard. The supernatant was separated on a Phenomenex Sinergy polar-RP column with a mobile phase of water-acetonitrile-heptafluorobutyric acid (9 : 1 : 0.01, v/v/v) at a flow-rate of 0.2 ml min(-1), with a run time of 10 min. Detection was effected on an ion trap mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization interface operating in positive ionization mode. The acquisitions were in the multiple reaction monitoring mode using the following precursor --> product ion combinations: H-Tyr-His-OH (internal standard) m/z 319 --> 301; CAR m/z 227 --> 210 + 209; ANS m/z 241 --> 224 + 197 + 170; HCAR m/z 241 --> 156. The method was validated over the concentration range 15-1000 nmol g(-1) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) and limit of detection (LOD) were 12.5 and 4.2 pmol injected, respectively. The intra- and inter-day precisions were <10% (< or =17.47% at the LOQ) and the intra- and inter-assay accuracies were within +/-10% for all concentrations. The mapping profile in rat tissue gave the following results: the highest concentrations of CAR and ANS were found in skeletal muscles (soleus, gastrocnemius, tibialis), followed by the heart, cerebellum and brain (ANS below the LOQ). HCAR was found only in the brain and cerebellum. No histidine-containing dipeptides were detectable in plasma, liver, kidney and lung.     

An extensive study on isosorbide-5-mononitrate acid adducts for quantification in human plasma using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry and its application to bioequivalence sample analysis

A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) method for the determination of isosorbide-5-mononitrate (5-ISMN), used in the treatment of angina pectoris, in human plasma is described. The quantification of 5-ISMN was performed via stable acetate adduct formation with a high relative abundance. The plasma filtrate obtained after solid-phase extraction (SPE), using a polymer based, hydrophilic-lipophilic balanced (HLB) cartridge, was submitted directly to reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography separation followed by ESI and detection of the resulting ions using triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. There was no significant matrix effect on the analysis. For validation of the method, the recovery of the free analyte response was compared to that obtained from an optimized extraction method. The analyte stability was examined under conditions mimicking the sample storage, handling, and analytical procedures. The extraction procedure yielded extremely clean extracts with a recovery of 95.51% and 93.98% for iossorbide-5-mononitrate and topiramate (internal standard (IS)), respectively. The calibration curves were linear for the dynamic range of 10.0 to 1000.0 ng/mL with a correlation coefficient r > or = 0.9985. The intra-assay and inter-assay precision for the samples at the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) were 9.02 and 13.30%, respectively. The intra-assay accuracies at LLOQ, LQC, MQC and HQC levels varied from 98.13 to 118.15, 102.34 to 105.21, 100.69 to 109.68, and 95.76 to 102.92%, respectively, while the inter-assay accuracies ranged from 93.10 to 118.15, 93.03 to 107.04, 86.97 to 109.68 and 86.18 to 105.85%, respectively, at these levels. The method is rugged and fast with a total run time of 2 min. The method was successfully applied for a bioequivalence study in 24 human subject samples after oral administration of 60 mg extended release (ER) formulations.     

Development of an HPLC method for the determination of anidulafungin in human plasma and saline

An ultraviolet high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed to analyze anidulafungin in human plasma and saline. A reversed-phase column was used with a UV detector set at 310 nm. The mobile phase consisted of methanol and ammonium phosphate buffer at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. Micafungin was used as the internal standard. Both standard curves were linear over a range of 1 to 10 μg/mL. The intra-assay relative standard deviations (RSD) for plasma and saline matrices were 1.60-1.81% and 1.96-3.70%, respectively. The inter-assay RSD for plasma and saline matrices were 2.41-7.25% and 1.31-3.16%, respectively. This method successfully recapitulated anidulafungin plasma concentrations previously analyzed by HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry with precision and accuracy of 6.9% and 1.59%, respectively.     

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of lercanidipine in human plasma

A simple, sensitive and rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatography/positive electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/ESI-MS/MS) method has been developed and validated for the determination of lercanidipine in human plasma. Lercanidipine and the internal standard, nicardipine, were extracted from plasma by liquid-liquid extraction using tert-butyl methyl ether as the extraction solvent. UPLC analysis was performed isocratically on an AcQuity UPLC BEH C18 analytical column (2.1 x 50.0 mm i.d., particle size 1.7 microm). The mobile phase consisted of 70% acetonitrile in water containing 0.2% v/v formic acid and pumped at a flow rate of 0.30 mL/min. ESI in positive ion mode, with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM), was chosen for the detection of the analytes. The assay was linear over a concentration range of 0.05-30 ng/mL for lercanidipine with a limit of quantitation of 0.05 ng/mL. Quality control samples (0.05, 0.15, 15 and 25 ng/mL) in five replicates from five of analytical runs demonstrated intra-assay precision (% CV < or =7.3%), inter-assay precision (% CV < or =6.1%) and an overall accuracy (% relative error) of less than 6.2%. A run time of less than 1.0 min for each sample made it possible to analyze a large number of human plasma samples per day. The method can be used to quantify lercanidipine in human plasma covering a variety of pharmacokinetic or bioequivalence studies.     

Validation of a Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatographic Method for the Determination of Metronidazole in Transparent Oil-Water-Gel Formulations

A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the determination of metronidazole in new gel formulations was developed and validated according to the recommendations of the International Harmonization Conference. An adaptation of the method described for metronidazole determination in plasma has been used, and the step of extraction has been developed. The method was demonstrated to be linear over a range of 60–140% of nominal label claim, accurate (100.08±0.63%) and precise (0.67% for intra-assay and 1.68% for inter-assay). Single point calibration was chosen for analysis because of its simplicity and wide use in the pharmaceutical industry for content uniformity analysis.     

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric quantification of the mu opioid receptor agonist DAMGO in ovine plasma

The synthetic opioid peptide analog Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-N-methyl-Phe-Gly-ol (DAMGO), which is a mu opioid receptor-selective agonist, was quantified in ovine plasma samples with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS), using delayed extraction and a reflectron. The internal standard was pentadeuterated DAMGO. Timed-ion selection was used to select the precursor ion. The analysis of the post-source decay fragments improved the detection sensitivity, and the use of the precursor-product ion relationship optimized the specificity. For plasma samples, the inter-assay variability of this method was 6.4% (n = 79) and the intra-assay variability was 6.0% (n = 10). The variability for controls was 3.4% (n = 43). The profile of DAMGO amount versus time was determined in sheep plasma, and the corresponding pharmacokinetic data were calculated.     

Determination of the oximes 2-hydroxyiminomethyl-3-methyl-1-[2-(3-methyl- 3-nitrobutyloxymethyl)]imidazolium chloride and 1-[1-(3-butynyloxymethyl)]-2-hydroxyiminomethyl-3-methylimida zolium chloride in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography

An assay is presented for the extraction and quantitation of two oximes, 2-hydroxyimino-methyl-3-methyl-1-[2-(3-methyl-3-nitrobutyloxyme thyl)] imidazolium chloride (oxime A) and 1-[1-(3-butynyloxymethyl)]-2-hydroxyiminomethyl-3-methylimidazo lium chloride (oxime B), in human plasma and is demonstrated to be linear over two overlapping concentration ranges: 10-500 and 100-1000 ng/ml. The assay utilizes a liquid-liquid, ion-pair extraction and a normal-phase chromatographic separation on a silica column with ultraviolet detection at 270 nm. The method is sensitive, rapid and accurate. The limit of detection is 10 ng/ml (signal-to-noise ratio S/N greater than 10). The mean extraction recoveries of the oximes were greater than 86% at all concentration levels. The intra-assay variability was less than 3.3%, the inter-assay variability less than 7.2%. The compound is stable in plasma for 23 weeks when stored at -15 degrees C or -80 degrees C.     

Quantitation of simvastatin and its beta-hydroxy acid in human plasma by liquid-liquid cartridge extraction and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive and reliable procedure for the simultaneous determination of simvastatin (SV) and its active beta-hydroxy acid metabolite (SVA) in human plasma was developed and validated. The analytes were extracted simultaneously from 0.5 ml aliquots of human plasma samples by methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) via Chem Elut cartridge extraction [also called liquid-solid extraction (LSE) or liquid-liquid cartridge extraction (LLCE)], separated through a Kromasil C(18) column (50 x 2 mm i.d. 5 microm) and detected by tandem mass spectrometry with a turbo ionspray interface. Stable isotope-labeled SV and SVA, (13)CD(3)-SV and (13)CD(3)-SVA, were used as internal standards. SV and SVA were detected in positive and negative ion modes, respectively, via within-run polarity switching. The use of Chem Elut cartridges not only provided a simple and efficient means of plasma sample extraction but also successfully reduced the interconversion between SV and SVA to an undetectable (for lactonization of SVA) or negligible (<0.07%, for hydrolysis of SV) level. The method showed excellent reproducibility, with intra- and inter-assay precisions <4.5% (RSD), and intra- and inter-assay accuracy between 94% and 107% of nominal values, for both analytes. The extraction recoveries were 78% and 87% on average for SV and SVA, respectively. The analyte was found to be stable in plasma through three freeze (-70 degrees C)-thaw (4 degrees C) cycles and for at least 3 h under bench-top storage condition in an ice-bath (4 degrees C), and also in the reconstitution solution at 4 degrees C for at least 24 h. The method has a lower limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 50 pg ml(-1) with a linear calibration range of 0.05-50 ng ml(-1) for both analytes, and has proved to be very reliable for the analysis of clinical samples.