Detection of trace levels of thiodiglycol in blood, plasma and urine using gas chromatography-electron-capture negative-ion chemical ionisation mass spectrometry

A sensitive method has been developed for the detection and quantitative determination of thiodiglycol in blood, plasma and urine. Samples were extracted from Clin Elut columns and cleaned up on C18 Sep-Pak cartridges (blood, plasma) or Florisil Sep-Pak cartridges (urine). Tetradeuterothiodiglycol was added to the sample prior to extraction as internal standard. Thiodiglycol was converted to its bis-(pentafluorobenzoate) derivative and analysed by capillary gas chromatography-electron-capture negative-ion chemical ionisation mass spectrometry using selected ion monitoring. Levels of thiodiglycol down to 1 ng/ml (1 ppb) could be detected in 1-ml spiked blood and urine samples; calibration curves were linear over the range 5- or 10-100 ng/ml. Blood and urine samples from a number of control subjects were analysed for background levels of thiodiglycol. Concentrations up to 16 ng/ml were found in blood, but urine levels were below 1 ng/ml.