Qualitative and quantitative analysis of carbonyl compounds in ambient air samples by use of an HPLC–MSn method

The suitability of HPLC combined with ion-trap mass spectrometry was studied for the determination of carbonyl-2,4-dintrophenylhydrazones in ambient air. MS quantification was based on two internal standards and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization in the negative-ion mode. Limits of detection for air samples of 750 L in the full-scan mode varied between 1 and 15 ng x m(-3) expressed as carbonyl. Limits of quantification were approximately a factor of three higher. This is sufficient for background regions. For sample volumes of 750 L air the instrument response was linear from 10 ng x m(-3) to 800 microg x m(-3) for carbonyls and from 3 ng x m(-3) to 250 ng x m(-3) for dicarbonyls. Besides complete method validation, quantitative results for six air samples from four background sampling sites in North and Central Europe were compared with those obtained by use of HPLC-UV. Thirty-six carbonyl compounds could be identified and twenty-four were quantified. Values for major compounds, i.e. those present at levels well above the UV detection limits (9 to 18 ng x m(-3)), deviated by less than 20%.     

Determination of levoglucosan in atmospheric aerosols using high performance liquid chromatography with aerosol charge detection

A sensitive method for analysis of levoglucosan (1,6-anhydro-beta,d-glucopyranose) and other monosaccharide anhydrides, compounds present in biomass combustion smoke, was investigated employing high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with recently developed aerosol charge detection. Aerosol charge detection involves the conversion of the column effluent to an aerosol, which is charged to produce a current. Use of a cation-exchange column and a pure water eluent was found to separate levoglucosan and mannosan from other aerosol components with a detection limit of about 90 ng mL(-1) for levoglucosan or 5 ng injected. This method was demonstrated by successful analysis of aerosol filter samples from three locations.     

High-performance anion-exchange chromatography–mass spectrometry method for determination of levoglucosan, mannosan, and galactosan in atmospheric fine particulate matter

Biomass burning has a strong influence on the atmospheric aerosol composition through particulate organic, inorganic, and soot emissions. When biomass burns, cellulose and hemicelluloses degrade, producing monosaccharide anhydrides (MAs) such as levoglucosan, mannosan, and galactosan. Therefore, these compounds have been commonly used as tracers for biomass burning. In this study, a fast water-based method was developed for the routine analysis of MAs, based on high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry detection. This method combines simple sample preparation, fast separation, and the advantages of the selective detection with MS. Analysis run was optimized to the maximum separation of levoglucosan, mannosan, and galactosan with 15-min analysis. The validation results indicated that the method showed good applicability for determination of MA isomer concentrations in ambient samples. The limit of detection was 100 pg for levoglucosan and 50 pg for mannosan and galactosan. Wide determination ranges enabled the analysis of samples of different concentration levels. The method showed good precision, both for standard solutions (3.9–5.9% RSD) and for fine particle samples (4.3–8.5% RSD). Co-elution of internal standard (carbon-13-labeled levoglucosan) and sugar alcohols with levoglucosan decreased the sensitivity of levoglucosan determination. The method was used to determine the MA concentrations in ambient fine particle samples from urban background (Helsinki) and rural background (Hyytiälä) in Finland. The average levoglucosan, mannosan, and galactosan concentrations were 77, 8.8, and 4.2 ng?m^?3 in Helsinki (winter 2008–2009) and 17, 2.3, and 1.4 ng?m^?3 in Hyytiälä (spring 2007), respectively. The interrelation of the three MA isomers was fairly constant in the ambient fine particle samples.     

A simplified method for levoglucosan quantification in wintertime atmospheric particulate matter by high performance anion-exchange chromatography coupled with pulsed amperometric detection

Levoglucosan, a tracer for the assessment of the biomass burning contribution to atmospheric particulate matter (PM) concentrations, was determined by means of high-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC) with pulsed amperometric detection (PAD). In this work we propose a modification in the instrumental set-up aiming at an improvement in the detector response by adding NaOH after chromatographic separation to increase the pH. The comparison between this technique and the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method commonly used showed good agreement. Repeatability is 4.8% RSD, limits of detection for pevoglucosan, mannosan and galactosan are in the range 0.001–0.002 µg mL^?1 in solution, corresponding to 3–4 ng m^?3 for 24 m³ of air sampled. PM10 samples were characterised for levoglucosan and for organic and elemental carbon contents. The preliminary results reported here for five sites in the Lombardy region (Northern Italy) are, as far as we know, the first data on levoglucosan contribution to OC in Italy. The levoglucosan concentrations observed in Lombardy vary in the range 173–963 ng m^?3 with an average levoglucosan-C to OC ratio ranging from 1.5% to 2.5%.     

高效液相色谱-荧光检测法测定环境样品中的过氧化物

对高效液相色谱-荧光检测法测定过氧化氢和有机过氧化物的方法进行了改进,从而提高了方法的检测灵敏度。以氯化血红素(hemin)作催化剂进行柱后衍生反应,过氧化物将对羟基苯乙酸氧化生成能吸收荧光的二聚物,然后用荧光检测器检测。实验确定了最佳反应管温度和荧光检测波长。应用该法测定了大气和雨水样品中过氧化物的浓度。     

New method for caffeine quantification by planar chromatography coupled with electropray ionization mass spectrometry using stable isotope dilution analysis

A new high-performance thin-layer chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPTLC/ESI-MS) method for the quantification of caffeine in pharmaceutical and energy drink samples was developed using stable isotope dilution analysis (SIDA). After sample preparation, samples and caffeine standard were applied on silica gel 60 F254 HPTLC plates and over-spotted with caffeine-d3 used for correction of the plunger positioning. After chromatography, densitometric detection was performed by UV absorption at 274 nm. The bands were then eluted by means of a plunger-based extractor into the ESI interface of a single-quadrupole mass spectrometer. For quantification by MS the [M+H]+ ions of caffeine and caffeine-d3 were recorded in the positive ion single ion monitoring (SIM) mode at m/z 195 and 198, respectively. The calibration showed a linear regression with a determination coefficient (R2) of 0.9998. The repeatability (RSD, n=6) in matrix was相似文献   

Rapid quantitative and qualitative confirmatory method for the determination of monofluoroacetic acid in foods by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Many environmental samples contain complex mixtures of organic compounds with different sources, polarities and reactivities. This study reports a method for the analysis of both polar/water-soluble and apolar organic compounds in several kinds of environmental samples. The analytical method consists of extraction with a mixture of dichloromethane:methanol (2:1, v/v), silylation using BSTFA (N,O-bis-(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide) and analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), a common device in chemical and environmental laboratories. Fifty individual sugar standards, including monosaccharides, sugar alcohols, anhydrosugars, disaccharides and trisaccharides, were analyzed for the determination of their fragmentation patterns and retention times. Recoveries (at three concentrations) and limits of detection (LOD) were determined for a standard mixture containing glucose (monosaccharide), sorbitol (sugar alcohol), levoglucosan (anhydrosugar) and sucrose (disaccharide), and they varied from 68 to 119% and 130 to 360 ng mL(-1), respectively. The method was used for the analysis of aerosol particle, soil and sediment samples, and demonstrated its feasibility in detecting not only several important environmental sugars (e.g., glucose, fructose, inositol, mannitol, sorbitol, levoglucosan, sucrose, mycose), but also a large range of organic compound classes from other polar components (e.g., dicarboxylic acids) to apolar compounds such as n-alkanes. Therefore, the analytical method presented here demonstrated its usefulness for a better understanding of sources and transport of various organic compounds in different environmental compartments.     

High performance thin layer chromatography determination of cellobiosan and levoglucosan in bio-oil obtained by fast pyrolysis of sawdust

In this work, high performance thin layer liquid chromatography (HTPLC) is applied to the determination of sugars in fast pyrolysis liquids (bio-oil) and fractions thereof. The proposed procedure allows the separation of anhydrosugar levoglucosan and cellobiosan, as well as glucose, arabinose, xylose and cellobiose. Pre-treatment and derivatization of samples are not necessary and volatile compounds present in bio-oil do not interfere with sugar analysis. The detrimental effect of the complex bio-oil matrix on columns and detector lifetime is avoided by using disposable HTPLC plates. Prior screening of glucose, present especially in aged and aqueous bio-oil fractions, is required to quantify cellobiosan without interference. Concentrations of levoglucosan and cellobiosan in bio-oil samples obtained from Pinus radiata sawdust were ranged between 1.27-2.26% and 0.98-1.96% respectively, while a bio-oil sample obtained from native wood contained a higher levoglucosan concentration.     

Analysis of 1-nitropyrene in air particulate matter standard reference materials by using two-dimensional high performance liquid chromatography with online reduction and tandem mass spectrometry detection

1-Nitropyrene (1-NP) is enriched in diesel exhaust particulate matter (DPM) relative to other sources of particulate matter (PM), and has been proposed as a marker for DPM. However, in ambient air, 1-NP concentrations are typically in the low pg/m(3) range. Therefore, collection of large volume air samples coupled with extensive sample clean-up procedures has been required to achieve adequate detection limits to measure 1-NP in ambient samples. We report here an improved LC-MS/MS method suitable for the detection and quantification of 1-NP in low volume ambient PM samples. The method involves ultrasonic extraction of ambient PM in organic solvent, concentration of the sample under reduced pressure, and two-dimensional HPLC analysis of the extract. 1-NP is isolated on the first HPLC column, then converted to 1-aminopyrene (1-AP) via online reduction in a column packed with a Pt/Rh catalyst. The 1-AP containing fraction from the first column is refocused on a trapping column, then eluted through a second HPLC column prior to MS/MS detection. Deuterated (d(9)) 1-NP (1-dNP) is added to each sample prior to extraction as an internal standard for quantification of 1-NP. The accuracy and precision of the assay, as applied to ambient particulate standard reference materials are 110+/-5.7% for SRM 1650b, 116+/-7.1% for SRM 2975, 108+/-5.8% for SRM 1649a, and 53+/-9.2% for SRM 1648. The analytical limit of detection was 152 fg on column, and analytical limit of quantitation 221 fg on column. To our knowledge, the sensitivity of this method is comparable with GC-NICI-MS methods while having the advantage of considerably less extensive sample preparation. This method is an approximately 10-fold improvement in sensitivity over HPLC methods utilizing fluorescence and/or chemiluminescence detection.     

Application of capillary electrophoresis with field-amplified sample injection for the detection of new adrenoreceptor antagonist enantiomers in plasma in the low ng/mL concentration range

Throughout the separation of chiral basic drugs by capillary electrophoresis (CE) with neutral hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) as chiral selector, the sensitivity of detection has been improved by using field-amplified sample injection (FASI). In the present work, this on-line stacking method has been used to detect low ng/mL levels of cationic enantiomers of a new adrenoreceptor antagonist in plasma. A systematic study of the parameters affecting on-line concentration of these enantiomers (nature of the preinjection plug, composition of sample solvent, injection times of water and sample plugs) has been performed enabling the detection sensitivity of antagonist enantiomers to be improved by 180 times compared with usual hydrodynamic injection. The quantification of each adrenoreceptor antagonist enantiomer in plasma samples was then performed in the 2-100 ng/mL (or 8-400 nM) concentration range after a solid-phase extraction step. Using this FASI-CE-UV procedure, the limit of quantification (LOQ) for each enantiomer was in the low ng/mL concentration range (3 ng/mL or 10 nM).     

Comparison of HPLC and CE methods for the determination of cetirizine dihydrochloride in human plasma samples

Two methods, capillary electrophoresis (CE) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), for analysis of cetirizine dihydrochloride in small sample volumes of human plasma were compared. The CE and HPLC assays were developed and validated by analyzing a series of plasma samples containing cetirizine dihydrochloride in different concentrations using these two methods. The extraction procedure is simple and no complicated purification steps or derivatization are required. The analysis time in the HPLC method was shorter than that in the CE method, but solvent consumption was considerably lower in the CE method. The calibration curve was linear to at least 10-1000 ng/mL both for CE and HPLC with r(2) = 0.9993 and r(2) = 0.9994, respectively. The detection limits for cetirizine dihydrochloride were 3 and 5 ng/mL with CE and HPLC (a UV detector was applied in the both cases), respectively. Both methods were selective, robust and specific, allowing reliable quantification of cetirizine dihydrochloride, and could be useful for clinical and biomedical investigations.     

Simultaneous determination of benzophenone-type UV filters in water and soil by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A novel method has been developed to simultaneously determine and quantify seven organic UV filters employing liquid (solid)-liquid extraction, derivatization with N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide (MSTFA) and gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection in various environmental matrices. The UV filters determined were: benzophenone (BP), benzhydrol (BH), 4-hydroxybenzophenone (HBP), 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (HMB), 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (DHB), 2,2'-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (DHMB) and 2,3,4-trihydroxylbenzophenone (THB). Under optimal conditions, the analysis required 23 min and good linearity over the range of 10-2,500 ng/L in water and 100-25,000 ng/kg in soil for each UV filter obtained. The high recovery (62-114% and 60-125% for water and soil samples, respectively) and the low RSD values (less than 13.9 and 17.2% for water and soil samples, respectively) indicated the high performance of this method. The method detection limits (MDLs) were relatively low, ranging from 5 to 100 ng/L or kg and quantification limits ranged between 25 and 500 ng/L or kg for all test compounds. This validated method was applied in the analysis of seven BP-type UV filters collecting water and soil samples in Korea, between April and May 2003. The overall concentration of UV filters in the soil sample (500-18,380 ng/kg) was highly distributed in water sample (27-204 ng/L). The established method was successfully applied to monitor the residue measurement of the BP-type UV filters in environmental water and soil samples.     

Mechanised flow system for on-line microwave digestion of food samples with off-line catalytic spectrophotometric determination of cobalt at ng l-1 levels

A mechanised system for on-line slurry food sample digestion was developed and an off-line cobalt determination was performed. The stabilised slurry sample was introduced into an air carrier stream until reaching the digestion coils located inside a household microwave oven. Software written in Visual Basic 3.0 was developed to permit the transport of the slurry samples and the programming of the microwave oven and also the control of the mineralization valve. The proposed system was optimized for determination of cobalt in certified samples such as mussels, bovine liver and fish and also uncertified fish samples. The digestion parameters were established as 3 mol l-1 HNO3 for mussels, 3 mol l-1 HNO3 plus 0.16% v/v H2O2 for bovine liver and 12 mol l-1 HNO3 for fish employing maximum power for 5 min of microwave actuation. In the subsequent spectrophotometric method for the catalytic determination of cobalt, the Tiron and hydrogen peroxide concentrations were 1.8 x 10(-3) and 3.0 x 10(-4) mol l-1, respectively, and the sample residence time was 300 s as determined by an optimisation process. The proposed method features a linear range from 10 to 200 ng l-1 Co (r > 0.996) with detection and quantification limits of 1.7 and 5.5 ng l-1 Co, respectively. The precision, expressed as RSD, was 2.4% (n = 12) for repeatability and 5.2% (n = 10) for reproducibility and the accuracy of the proposed method was assessed by using certified samples and an alternative technique (ETAAS).     

高效液相色谱-串联质谱检测牛奶中的甲状腺素

建立了高效液相色谱-串联质谱(HPLC-MS/MS)检测牛奶中甲状腺素3,3′,5,5′-四碘-L-甲腺原氨酸(T4), 3,3′,5-三碘-L-甲腺原氨酸(T3)和3,3′,5′-三碘-L-甲腺原氨酸(rT3)的方法。样品用乙腈提取,离心,上清液经氨水碱化和Cleanert PAX固相萃取小柱净化,在Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18 (150 mm×2.1 mm, 3.5 μm)色谱柱上以0.1%(v/v)乙酸水溶液和甲醇为流动相等度洗脱分离,以电喷雾正离子(ESI+)模式电离,多反应监测(MRM)模式质谱检测,内标法定量。结果表明,甲状腺素的检出限(LOD)不大于0.03 ng/g,定量限(LOQ)不大于0.1 ng/g;在考察的浓度范围内线性关系良好(r2＞ 0.998);回收率为80.61%～101.7%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为1.48%～9.70%。室温下样品溶液中的甲状腺素保持稳定。对5个牛奶样品的测定结果显示,T3含量为0.59～1.30 ng/g, RSD为2.06%～7.70%; T4和rT3未检出。该方法具有样品处理简单,灵敏度高,重现性好,定性和定量结果可靠等特点,为牛奶中甲状腺素的测定和相关质量安全评价提供了可靠手段。     

Rapid and sensitive determination of pyrethroids indoors using active sampling followed by ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction and gas chromatography

A fast and simple method to analyze pyrethroids as well as other components of frequently used domestic insecticide preparations in indoor air is presented. The proposed method, based on sampling with an adsorbent followed by ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction, was developed with the aim to simplify the traditional extraction methodologies applied up to date to determine pesticides in air. The analytes were retained on a very small amount of adsorbent, which allowed using solely 1 mL of solvent for desorption. The quantification was performed by gas chromatography with microelectron-capture detection (GC-muECD) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The influence of main factors involved in the ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction step (type of adsorbent and type of solvent, solvent volume and extraction time) was studied using an experimental design approach to account for possible factor interactions. The sampling step was studied for two adsorbents (Tenax TA and Florisil), finding that 1 m(3) air could be sampled without losses of analytes. In this way, the analysis of pyrethroids in air by the proposed method could be carried out within a total time shorter than an hour, including sampling. Linearity was demonstrated in a wide concentration range. Efficiency of the total sampling-extraction process was studied at several concentration levels (2, 10, 100 and 1000 ng/m(3)), obtaining quantitative recoveries for all compounds, with good precision (RSD < 10%). Method detection limits were below 1 ng/m(3) in air when GC-muECD was employed, and about one order of magnitude higher for GC-MS. In addition, the proposed method was applied to real samples collected in contaminated closed rooms, in which some of the target compounds were determined.     

On-line derivatization gas chromatography with furan chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry for screening of amphetamines in urine

A simple alternative method with minimal sample pretreatment is investigated for screening of amphetamines in small volume (using only 20 microL) of urine sample. The method is sensitive and selective. The method uses gas chromatography (GC) direct sample introduction (DSI) for on-line derivatization (acylation) of amphetamines to improve sensitivity. Furan as chemical ionization (CI) reagent in conjunction with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) is used to improve selectivity. Low background with sharp protonated molecular ion peaks of analytes is the evidence of improvement in sensitivity and selectivity. Blank urine samples spiked with known amounts of amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine is analyzed. Selected ion monitoring of the characteristic product ions (m/z 119+136+150+163) using furan CI-MS/MS in positive ion mode is used for quantification. Limits of detection (LOD) between 0.4 and 1.0 ng mL(-1) and limits of quantitation (LOQ) between 1.0 and 2.0 ng mL(-1) are established. Linear response over the range of 1-1000 ng mL(-1) (r(2)>0.997) is observed for all analytes, except for methamphetamine (2.0-1000 ng mL(-1)). Good accuracy between 86 and 113% and precision ranging from 4 to 18% is obtained. The method is also tested on real samples of urine from suspected drug abusers. This method could be used for screening and determination of amphetamines in urine samples, however needs additional work for full validation.     

Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantification of amisulpride with LLOQ of 100 pg/mL using 100 microL of plasma

A sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatography-positive ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the quantification of amisulpride in 100 microL of human plasma. Following liquid-liquid extraction, the analytes were separated using an isocratic mobile phase on a reverse-phase column and analyzed by MS/MS in the multiple reaction monitoring mode using the respective (M + H)(+) ions, m/z 370-242 for amisulpride and m/z 341-112 for the internal standard. The assay exhibited a linear dynamic range with a lower range of 0.1-100 ng/mL and a higher range of 1-500 ng/mL of amisulpride in human plasma. The lower limit of quantification was 0.1 ng/mL with a relative standard deviation of less than 10%. Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained for both linearity ranges. A run time of 2.0 min for each sample made it possible to analyze more than 275 human plasma samples per day. The validated method has been successfully used to analyze plasma samples for application in pharmacokinetic studies.     

A liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry assay for the analysis of atomoxetine in human plasma and in vitro cellular samples

A simple, rapid and sensitive method for quantification of atomoxetine by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) was developed. This assay represents the first LC‐MS/MS quantification method for atomoxetine utilizing electrospray ionization. Deuterated atomoxetine (d3‐atomoxetine) was adopted as the internal standard. Direct protein precipitation was utilized for sample preparation. This method was validated for both human plasma and in vitro cellular samples. The lower limit of quantification was 3 ng/mL and 10 nm for human plasma and cellular samples, respectively. The calibration curves were linear within the ranges of 3–900 ng/mL and 10 nm to 10 µm for human plasma and cellular samples, respectively (r² > 0.999). The intra‐ and inter‐day assay accuracy and precision were evaluated using quality control samples at three different concentrations in both human plasma and cellular lysate. Sample run stability, assay selectivity, matrix effect and recovery were also successfully demonstrated. The present assay is superior to previously published LC‐MS and LC‐MS/MS methods in terms of sensitivity or the simplicity of sample preparation. This assay is applicable to the analysis of atomoxetine in both human plasma and in vitro cellular samples. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gas chromatographic determination of trace amounts of vinyl chloride and dichloroethenes in landfill-gas

A method for the determination of vinyl chloride (VC) and dichloroethenes (DCE) in gas samples is presented. The analytes are preconcentrated from a gas-volume of up to 20 l on an adsorption tube filled with 1.0 g of a carbon molecular sieve at a flow rate of 80 l/h and are subsequently desorbed with carbon disulfide. Vinyl bromide is added as internal standard to the extract. The analytes are determined as their 1,2-dibromo-derivatives by capillary gas chromatography with electron capture detection. The detection limits have been found to be 82 ng/m(3) = 32 ppt (VC), 190 ng/m(3) = 48 ppt (1,1-DCE) and 96 ng/m(3) = 24 ppt (cis-/trans-1,2-DCE). The method has been used for the quantification of the anaerobic microbial degradation of tetra- (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE) to dichloroethenes and vinyl chloride in landfill sites. The substances have been analyzed in landfill-gas as well as in gaseous emissions from the landfill surface. The mean emission rates of tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene and vinyl chloride from the landfill surface into the ambient air are about 0.5 microg/(m(2) x h).     

Development and validation of a highly sensitive gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric screening method for the simultaneous determination of nanogram levels of fentanyl, sufentanil and alfentanil in air and surface contamination wipes

A highly sensitive gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analytical method for the determination of the opioid narcotics fentanyl, alfentanil, and sufentanil in industrial hygiene personal air samples and surface contamination wipes was developed and comprehensively validated. Sample preparation involved a single step extraction of the samples with methanol, fortified with a fixed amount of the penta-deuterated analogues of the opioid narcotics as internal standard. The GC-MS analytical procedure using selected ion monitoring (SIM) was shown to be highly selective. Linearity was shown for levels of extracted wipe and air samples corresponding to at least 0.1-2 times their surface contamination limit (SCL) and accordingly to 0.1-2 times their time weighted average occupational exposure limit (OEL-TWA) based on a full shift 9601 air sample. Extraction recoveries were determined for spiked air samples and surface wipes and were found to be quantitative for both sampling media in the entire range studied. The air sampling method's limit of detection (LOD) was determined to be 0.4 ng per sample for fentanyl and sufentanil and 1.6 ng per sample for alfentanil, corresponding to less than 1% of their individual OEL for a full shift air sample (9601). The limit of quantification (LOQ) was found to be 1.4, 1.2, and 5.0 ng per filter for fentanyl, sufentanil, and alfentanil, respectively. The wipe sampling method had LODs of 4 ng per wipe for fentanyl and sufentanil and 16 ng per wipe for alfentanil and LOQs of respectively, 14, 12, and 50 ng per wipe. The analytical intra-assay precision of the air sampling and wipe sampling method, defined as the coefficient of variation on the analytical result of six replicate spiked media was below 10 and 5%, respectively, for all opioids at all spike levels. Accuracy expressed as relative error was determined to be below 10%, except for alfentanil at the lowest spike level (-13.1%). The stability of the opioids during simulated air sampling was investigated. For fentanyl and sufentanil a quantitative recovery was observed at all spike levels, while for alfentanil recoveries ranged from 60.3 to 85.4%. When spiked air samples were stored at ambient temperature and at -15 degrees C quantitative recovery was found for fentanyl and sufentanil after 7 and 14 days. For alfentanil a slight loss seemed to occur upon storage during 7 days, being more explicit after 14 days. Ambient storage of spiked wipes seemed to lead to significant losses of all opioids studied, yielding recoveries of 37.7-88.3%. Upon storage of similar wipes at -15 degrees C a significantly higher recovery was found ranging from 77.3 to 88.3%. The developed analytical and sampling procedures have been recently applied in an explorative field study of which the results of surface contamination wipe sampling are presented in this paper. To our knowledge, this is the first study addressing the development and validation of analytical procedures for the assessment of external occupational exposure to potent opioid narcotics.