Automated fluorescence polarization immunoassay for monitoring vancomycin

We have extended fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) technology for the measurement of drugs to include the complex amphoteric glycopeptide antibiotic vancomycin (molecular weight, 1,449). Fluorescein-labeled vancomycin was employed as a tracer, and antisera specific for vancomycin were raised in rabbits by conventional procedures. Tracer, sample, and diluted antiserum were combined, and the polarization of tracer fluorescence is determined in a specially designed fluorometer (Abbott TDx). Because of instrument design, the possibility of fluorescent interferences is minimized. The assay can measure as little as 0.6 mg/L of vancomycin and is free of interferences from hemolysis, lipemia, bilirubin, and changes in protein concentration. The coefficient of variation within assay was 3% (n = 5) and between assays was 5% (n = 5). The FPIA assay (TDx Vancomycin) was compared to a liquid chromatographic (LC) assay for vancomycin and to a commercially available radioimmunoassay (RIA) for 98 clinical specimens. A linear least-squares regression analysis gave a correlation coefficient for LC of 0.980 from the equation FPIA = 1.09 LC + 3.04, and a correlation coefficient for RIA of 0.957 from the equation FPIA = 1.036 RIA + 1.66.     

The plasma pharmacokinetics and cerebral spinal fluid penetration of intravenous topiramate in newborn pigs

INTRODUCTION: Pre-clinical studies suggest that the anticonvulsant topiramate confers neurologic protection against ischemia. An intravenous formulation of topiramate has been developed for administration during conditions such as hypoxia-ischemia when enteral absorption may be unpredictable. The plasma pharmacokinetics, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) penetration and pharmacodynamics of intravenous topiramate were studied in an established piglet model of hypoxia-ischemia. METHODS: The plasma pharmacokinetics of topiramate were studied in a group of chronically instrumented conscious piglets (n = 8), and in a group of piglets following an episode of hypoxia-ischemia (n = 8). These groups were divided into equal dose cohorts in which two doses of intravenously administered topiramate, 5 and 40 mg/kg, were studied. The animals' heart rate, arterial pressure and EEG were monitored. Plasma for topiramate concentration was sampled for up to 26 h. A single CSF topiramate concentration was determined 1 h following drug administration. Topiramate was quantified using a specific LC/MS assay. RESULTS: The animals tolerated intravenous topiramate well, with no significant changes in physiologic and neurologic parameters. Plasma topiramate concentrations following an intravenous dose were best described by a bi-exponential equation, with a mean clearance of 39+/-18 ml/h/kg, and a terminal half-life of 14.3 (range 7.5-48.1) h. A dose of 5 mg/kg was sufficient to maintain plasma drug concentrations greater than 10 micro M for 24 h. CSF topiramate concentration at 1 h was 12+/-1 micro M and 109+/-26 micro M at the 5 and 40 mg/kg doses, respectively. CONCLUSION: Topiramate administered intravenously was well tolerated. Slow clearance of the drug allowed for maintenance of potential neuroprotective concentrations following a single dose of drug for 24 h. High drug penetration into the CSF is an ideal pharmacologic characteristic of any potential neuroprotective agent. The pharmacokinetic profile of intravenously administered topiramate, including its penetration into the CSF, appears to achieve this goal.     

液相色谱—质谱联用法测定人血浆中多潘立酮及其在健康中国志愿者中的药物动力学

目的:测定人血浆中多潘立酮的浓度,并研究在中国志愿者中单剂量口服20mg后的药物动力学过程.方法:用液-液萃取法提取血浆中药物.采用液相色谱-质谱联用分析手段,建立测定人血浆中多潘立酮浓度的分析方法.结果:多潘正酮在0.52—154.5μg/L浓度范围内线性良好(r=0.9999),其在人血浆中的回收率大于75％,低浓度(0.52μg/L)的日内、日间差异分别为9.4％和7.6％.多潘立酮的血药浓度-经时曲线符合二房室模型,其主要药物动力学参数为:T_(max)=(0.8±0.7)h,C_(max)=(50±32)μg/L,T_(1 2)=(7.8±1.6)h.结论:本方法专属性强,灵敏度高,可准确测定多潘不酮在人血浆中的浓度.     

高灵敏度LC/MS/MS法同时测定人血浆中麻黄碱和氯苯那敏

麻黄碱是存在于草麻黄和木贼麻黄等植物中的生物碱,属拟肾上腺素类药物,包括互为差向异构体的麻黄碱和伪麻黄碱两种活性不同的成分;氯苯那敏为丙胺类组胺H1-受体拮抗剂,作用较强,用量少,中枢抑制作用小,为常用抗过敏药,临床上可用于缓解各种感冒症状,与麻黄碱联合应用,用于缓解支气管哮喘与慢性喘息性支气管炎所致支气管痉挛.     

Comparison of particle-enhanced turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay and fluorescence polarization immunoassay using monoclonal antibodies for theophylline

The DuPont theophylline assay reagent kit, a particle-enhanced turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay (PETINIA) method adapted for use on a centrifugal fast analyzer, was evaluated. It was compared with fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA). Day-to-day precision was 4.7% at 6.8 micrograms/ml, and 3.3% at 26.6 micrograms/ml. The assay is linear to a concentration of 40 micrograms/ml. Good correlation was found between the two methods (PETINIA/FPIA: y = 1.04x + 0.15, r = 0.988, Syx = 1.19) in the evaluation of 176 patients receiving theophylline. This method offers a precise and accurate alternative to FPIA.     

LC/MS/MS plasma assay for the peptidomimetic VLA4 antagonist I and its major active metabolite II: for treatment of asthma by inhalation.

In vitro and in animals, I is a potent and specific peptidomimetic for the potential treatment of airway inflammation in the pathogenesis of asthma. Preclinical studies indicated extensive conversion of I to an active metabolite II, and thus, a very sensitive assay for I and II was needed to support an inhalation ascending-dose study in man. The LC/MS/MS plasma/urine assay method (1.0 ml of sample) involves the following: liquid-liquid extraction of acidified plasma into pentane-ethyl acetate (90:10 v/v); evaporation of the organic extract, reconstitution into methanol; addition of water to the methanolic extract and freezing. After thawing, the extract is centrifuged and the clear supernatant injected for chromatography. Extract is chromatographed on a YMC ODS-AM column (50 x 2.0 mm). For detection, a Sciex 365 LC/MS/MS with an electrospray inlet and used in the positive ion, multiple reaction monitoring mode was used to monitor precursor-->fragment ions of m/z 709-->594 for I and m/z 513-->380 for II. The plasma assay was linear over the concentration range of 0.1-100 ng/ml in plasma for I and II. Accuracy and precision for I ranged from 97.9 to 102.1% of nominal with a 0.84-10.65% CV; similarly for II, 98.0-101.7% and 1.39-9.28% CV, respectively. Extraction recovery averaged 63.7% for I and 64.9% for II. This general assay methodology may be applied to assay small acidic peptides and peptidomimetics from biological fluids by LC/MS/MS.     

Evaluation of a fluorescence polarization immunoassay procedure for quantitation of isepamicin, a new aminoglycoside antibiotic

A fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) procedure for measuring isepamicin, a new aminoglycoside antibiotic, was evaluated. The range of the assay studied was from 0.3-50 micrograms/ml and the calibration curve can be stored for at least 32 days. There was no interference from hemoglobin (up to 400 mg/dl) and bilirubin (up to 20 mg/dl). Within-run precision on each 20 replicates at 5, 15, and 25 micrograms/ml yielded a coefficient of variation (CV) of 1.44-2.52%; between-run precision on analyses at 5, 15, and 25 micrograms/ml over five periods yielded a CV of 1.26-1.59%. Cross-reactivities of the assay system with tobramycin and amikacin were null, but that with gentamicin, of which isepamicin is a derivative, was approximately 14-29%. Data obtained by microbiological assay and FPIA and by high-performance liquid chromatography and FPIA correlated significantly, with coefficients of correlation being 0.980 (n = 70) and 0.965 (n = 39), respectively. The FPIA offers a rapid, efficient, and accurate system for therapeutic monitoring of isepamicin plasma levels.     

Quantification of sirolimus and everolimus by immunoassay techniques: test specificity and cross-reactivity evaluation

The possible cross-reactivity of immunoassays with structurally-related drugs was investigated. Innofluor Certican (FPIA) calibrators were measured by using IMx Sirolimus assay (MEIA) and MEIA Sirolimus calibrators were analysed by using FPIA Certican assay. Drug concentrations were measured in 95 and 100 samples from renal transplanted patients (RTP) on sirolimus or everolimus treatment by using immunoassays and LC/ESI-MSMS. A high cross-reactivity was found both for MEIA and FPIA. High correlation degrees, confirmed by the Bland-Altman and the Eksborg tests, were found between drug concentrations measured in real samples by both immunoassays (r = 0.909 and r = 0.970, respectively). LC/ESI-MSMS analysis of samples containing sirolimus showed no positivity for everolimus. Similarly, samples from patients on treatment with everolimus resulted negative as far as regards sirolimus. MEIA and FPIA could be considered mutually reliable and accurate alternatives for the specific-drug immunoassay. It should be noticed that in patients switching from one drug to the other unreal overestimation of the blood levels of the current administered immunosuppressant can occur.     

Teicoplanin measurement in patients with renal failure: comparison of fluorescence polarization immunoassay, microbiological assay, and high-performance liquid chromatographic assay.

Characterization of antibiotic pharmacokinetics in patients with renal insufficiency may be complicated by interfering substances within the assay. We compared three different assays for teicoplanin in serum and dialysate of 10 hemodialysis and six continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. The microbiological assay (micro) had a within-run and between-run coefficient of variation (% CV) of less than 7.5% for concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 96 micrograms/ml. The high-performance liquid chromatographic assay (HPLC) within- and between-run %CV was less than 8% for concentrations ranging from 1 to 80 micrograms/ml. The fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) within- and between-run %CV was less than 7% for concentrations ranging from 5 to 100 micrograms/ml. In serum of hemodialysis patients FPIA results were slightly higher than HPLC results: FPIA = 1.11 HPLC + 2.37 (r = 0.975, n = 202), and FPIA concentrations in serum were also slightly higher than those measured by micro (FPIA = 1.21 micro - 1.57, r = 0.972, n = 161). The HPLC and micro serum results were also comparable in hemodialysis patients: micro = 0.92 HPLC + 2.89, r = 0.953, n = 160. However, in CAPD patients micro results were lower than HPLC results in serum (micro = 0.82 HPLC + 0.49, r = 0.981, n = 262). In peritoneal dialysate, HPLC values were approximately 60% of the micro values. Thus, FPIA may be the optimal technique for therapeutic monitoring of teicoplanin in the clinical setting due to its simplicity, specificity, and good correlation to HPLC and micro.     

Rapid assay of topiramate in dried blood spots by a new liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method

Topiramate (TPM) is a new antiepiletic drug with efficacy in several types of seizures. Therapeutic drug monitoring of TPM is essential for effective patient management. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of dried blood spot (DBS) specimens to determinate the TPM levels during the treatment. Advantages of DBS include short collection time, low invasiveness, ease and low cost of sample collection, transport and storage. Performance comparison between this method and the commercially available fluorescence-polarization immunoassay (FPIA) was made.The analysis was performed in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. The calibration curve in matrix using D₁₂-topiramate was linear in the concentration range of 0.0166–1.66 mg/L (0.5–50 mg/L in DBS) of topiramate with correlation coefficient value of 0.9985. In the concentration range of 0.5–50 mg/L, the coefficients of variation in DBS were in the range 2.13–11.85% and the accuracy ranged from 93.93% to 110.67%.There was no significant differences between the concentrations (ranging 0.5–50 mg/L) measured both FPIA on venous samples and LC-MS/MS assay on simultaneous DBS samples.The sensitivity and specificity of tandem mass spectrometry allow now high throughput topiramate analysis (the improvement was three times in comparison with FPIA). This new assay has favourable characteristics being highly precise and accurate. FPIA also proved to be precise and accurate, but is not always suitable for the sample collection in neonates in whom obtaining larger blood samples is not convenient or possible.     

LC-MS/MS法测定人血浆中硫酸沙丁胺醇浓度及其药动学研究

目的:建立以高效液相色谱电喷雾串联质谱法测定人血浆中硫酸沙丁胺醇浓度的方法,并研究其在健康人体内的药动学。方法:血浆样品碱化后经乙酸乙酯萃取,再进样测定,以甲醇-5%甲酸(85∶15)为流动相,苯海拉明为内标,AgilenTC-C18柱进行分离。多反应方式检测,定量分析的离子反应分别为m/z240.3→m/z148.1(硫酸沙丁胺醇)和m/z256.1→m/z167.2(苯海拉明)。结果:沙丁胺醇检测浓度在0.2～20ng·mL-1范围内线性关系良好(r=0.9968),定量下限为0.2ng·mL-1;回收率为95.3%～98.2%,日内、日间RSD分别为3.75%～5.94%、3.15%～9.31%。健康受试者口服硫酸沙丁胺醇口腔崩解片后的药-时数据符合一级吸收的二室模型。结论:本方法简便、快速、灵敏,适用于硫酸沙丁胺醇的临床药动学研究。     

Comparison of an ELISA and an LC/MS/MS method for measuring tacrolimus concentrations and making dosage decisions in transplant recipients

This study compared an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) technique for measurement of tacrolimus concentrations in adult kidney and liver transplant recipients, and investigated how assay choice influenced pharmacokinetic parameter estimates and drug dosage decisions. Tacrolimus concentrations measured by both ELISA and LC/MS/MS from 29 kidney (n = 98 samples) and 27 liver (n = 97 samples) transplant recipients were used to evaluate the performance of these methods in the clinical setting. Tacrolimus concentrations measured by the two techniques were compared via regression analysis. Population pharmacokinetic models were developed independently using ELISA and LC/MS/MS data from 76 kidney recipients. Derived kinetic parameters were used to formulate "typical dosing" regimens for concentration targeting. Dosage recommendations for the two assays were compared. The relation between LC/MS/MS and ELISA measurements was best described by the regression equation ELISA = 1.02. (LC/MS/MS) + 0.14 in kidney recipients, and ELISA = 1.12. (LC/MS/MS) - 0.87 in liver recipients. ELISA displayed less accuracy than LC/MS/MS at lower tacrolimus concentrations. Population pharmacokinetic models based on ELISA and LC/MS/MS data were similar with residual random errors of 4.1 ng/mL and 3.7 ng/mL, respectively. Assay choice gave rise to dosage prediction differences ranging from 0% to 30%. ELISA measurements of tacrolimus are not automatically interchangeable with LC/MS/MS values. Assay differences were greatest in adult liver recipients, probably reflecting periods of liver dysfunction and impaired biliary secretion of metabolites. While the majority of data collected in this study suggested assay differences in adult kidney recipients were minimal, findings of ELISA dosage underpredictions of up to 25% in the long term must be investigated further.     

Comparison of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with a commercial enzyme-multiplied immunoassay for the determination of plasma MPA in renal transplant recipients and consequences for therapeutic drug monitoring

Mycophenolic acid (MPA) is an immunosuppressive drug partly metabolized to MPA-glucuronide (MPAG), which is pharmacologically inactive. The currently available enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT) has been reported to overestimate MPA plasma concentration in clinical samples when compared with HPLC techniques. The aims of this study were to design and validate a specific liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technique for the determination of MPA and MPAG using a low plasma volume and a simple sample preparation procedure; then to compare it with EMIT for the determination of MPA in plasma samples collected over an interdose interval at different posttransplantation periods (days 3, 7, and 30 and after 3 months) in 25 renal transplant recipients orally administered cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil twice daily, to investigate the origins of the differences between techniques. The LC-MS/MS technique developed showed limits of quantification (LOQs) of 0.1 mg/L and 1 mg/L for MPA and MPAG, respectively, and was linear, accurate, and precise from these LOQs up to 30 mg/L for MPA and 300 mg/L for MPAG. EMIT gave similar results to LC-MS/MS for spiked quality control samples (in a synthetic matrix or in drug-free plasma) but significantly overestimated MPA levels in clinical samples: EMIT - LC-MS/MS = +61.39% +/- 57.94%, with large variations depending on patients, time elapsed since transplantation, sampling time, and concentration levels. These results confirmed the known overestimation of the EMIT assay compared with a specific method and showed that the magnitude of this overestimation depended on sampling time and time after transplantation.     

Analytic performance evaluation of a new turbidimetric immunoassay for phenytoin on the ADVIA 1650 analyzer: effect of phenytoin metabolite and analogue

Phenytoin is an anticonvulsant that requires therapeutic drug monitoring. Recently, Bayer HealthCare, Diagnostics Division released a turbidimetric immunoassay of phenytoin on the ADVIA 1650 analyzer. We evaluated the analytic performance of this assay by comparing values obtained in 52 patients receiving Phenytoin using this new assay with the values obtained by using a widely used fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA). The new turbidimetric immunoassay for phenytoin showed the following imprecision with the low, medium, and high controls: total CV of 5.2% (mean 4.81 microg/mL), 3.7% (mean 16.24 microg/mL), and 4.1% (mean 22.65 microg/mL), respectively. The detection limit of the assay was 0.79 microg/mL, and the assay was linear up to a phenytoin concentration of 46.1 microg/mL. The assay showed excellent dilution recovery and recovery of spiked samples (mean recovery 101.4% and 94.4%, respectively). We observed an excellent correlation between the values obtained by the FPIA (x-axis) assay and the new turbidimetric (y-axis) assay (y=1.06 x-0.61, r=0.98, n=52). We also determined the cross-reactivity of 5-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenylhydantoin (HPPH), a major metabolite of phenytoin, and of oxaprozine, an analogue with a similar chemical structure to phenytoin, in both phenytoin assays. Both assays showed almost no cross-reactivity to oxaprozine and only small (5%-8%) cross-reactivity to HPPH. We also found that the turbidimetric assay was free from interference at least up to 1200 mg/dL of hemolysis, 30 mg/dL of free bilirubin, 34.5 mg/dL of conjugated bilirubin, and 750 mg/dL of triglyceride (Intralipid). When a drug-free serum was followed by a serum sample containing 38.5 microg/mL of phenytoin, no sample probe carryover effect was observed. We conclude that the new turbidimetric assay can be used for routine monitoring of phenytoin in clinical laboratories.     

New high-performance liquid chromatographic method for plasma/serum analysis of lamotrigine.

Lamotrigine is an anticonvulsant drug recently approved in Italy for clinical use. Therapeutic monitoring of lamotrigine is relevant for patient management and avoidance of toxicity. The authors describe a simple, sensitive, and highly selective high-performance liquid chromatography method that does not involved extraction for analysis of serum lamotrigine. Serum (20 microL) with internal standard (BW 725 C) was injected directly into a column (25 cm x 4.6 mm) with an internal surface reversed phase (ISRP). The mobile phase consisted of 0.01 mol/L potassium phosphate bibasic (pH 6.0) and acetonitrile (82:18), the flow rate was 1.0 mL/min, and UV detection was optimized at 330 nm. The overall between-run coefficient of variance ranged from 1.89% to 3.25% and the lowest limit of detection was 0.05 mg/L. High linearity (r = 0.9996) in a wide range of concentrations (0.1-20.0 mg/L) and no interference with other antiepileptic drugs, benzodiazepines, and tricyclic antidepressants were the other characteristics of the method. The innovation of this method is the use of ISRP column and the choice of detection wavelength, which allow a shorter analysis time (5-6 minutes). The possibility of direct injection of plasma samples into the column permits a reduction in reagent consumption and in analytic steps, and hence in analytic error.     

Measurement of cyclosporine in plasma of cardiac allograft recipients by fluorescence polarization immunoassay

The Abbott TDx fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) procedure for measuring cyclosporine A (CsA) was evaluated and compared with the Sandoz polyclonal radioimmunoassay (CsA RIA kit) method. This drug assay was evaluated for precision, calibration, stability, and accuracy. Within-run precision studies utilizing 25 replicate analyses of the three control preparations (containing CsA in the 60-800 ng/ml range) resulted in coefficients of variation (CV) ranging from 1.0 to 9.1%. The CVs of between-run precision determined by assaying the same control drug levels for five consecutive working days ranged from 3.9 to 4.6%. Calibration curve stability was assessed by examining the drift in control values over a 2-week period. Maximum plasma ranged from 82.6 to 108.2%. Four hundred plasma samples were obtained from 30 heart-transplant patients during the first 6 months of CsA therapy and each sample was analyzed simultaneously by TDx and RIA. Linear regression analysis of the results obtained for each patient (x = RIA, y = FPIA) revealed the following mean values: r = 0.87, (CV = 13.7%), slope = 1.47 (CV = 39.2%). Moreover, the concentration of CsA was determined in 35 patient samples both by TDx and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). FPIA results up to 12 times higher than HPLC results have been noted.     

Pharmacokinetics of sifuvirtide, a novel anti-HIV-1 peptide, in monkeys and its inhibitory concentration in vitro

AIM: To study the pharmacokinetics of sifuvirtide, a novel anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) peptide, in monkeys and to compare the inhibitory concentrations of sifuvirtide and enfuvirtide on HIV-1-infected-cell fusion. METHODS: Monkeys received 1.2 mg/kg iv or sc of sifuvirtide. An on-line solid-phase extraction procedure combined with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-LC/MS/MS) was established and applied to determine the concentration of sifuvirtide in monkey plasma. A four-(127)I iodinated peptide was used as an internal standard. Fifty percent inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of sifuvirtide on cell fusion was determined by co-cultivation assay. RESULTS: The assay was validated with good precision and accuracy. The calibration curve for sifuvirtide in plasma was linear over a range of 4.88-5000 microg/L, with correlation coefficients above 0.9923. After iv or sc administration, the observed peak concentrations of sifuvirtide were 10 626+/-2886 microg/L and 528+/-191 microg/L, and the terminal elimination half-lives (T(1/2)) were 6.3+/-0.9 h and 5.5+/-1.0 h, respectively. After sc, T(max) was 0.25-2 h, and the absolute bioavailability was 49%+/-13%. Sifuvirtide inhibited the syncytium formation between HIV-1 chronically infected cells and uninfected cells with an IC(50) of 0.33 microg/L. CONCLUSION: An on-line SPE-LC/MS/MS approach was established for peptide pharmacokinetic studies. Sifuvirtide was rapidly absorbed subcutaneously into the blood circulation. The T(1/2) of sifuvirtide was remarkably longer than that of its analog, enfuvirtide, reported in healthy monkeys and it conferred a long-term plasma concentration level which was higher than its IC(50) in vitro.     

LC/MS/MS法测定血浆中左羟丙哌嗪浓度及其药代动力学

目的建立测定血浆中左羟丙哌嗪的液相色谱-串联质谱法，考察左羟丙哌嗪在中国健康志愿者体内的药代动力学行为。方法血浆样品经液-液提取后，进行色谱分离，在三重四极杆串联质谱仪上，以多重反应离子监测(MRM)方式进行定量分析，用于监测的离子为m/z 237 → m/z 120（左羟丙哌嗪）和m/z 288 → m/z 58(佐米曲普坦，内标)。结果左羟丙哌嗪的最低定量浓度为0.25 μg·L^-1，线性范围为0.25-500.0 μg·L^-1，精密度与准确度符合生物样品分析要求。结论该法操作简便、快速、灵敏度高。可检测出健康志愿者po左羟丙哌嗪60 mg,其24 h后的血药浓度，适于临床药代动力学研究。     

High performance liquid chromatographic analysis of rabeprazole in human plasma and its pharmacokinetic application

A simple and sensitive HPLC method for the analysis of rabeprazole in plasma is described using UV detection in the presence of lorazepam as the internal standard. Rabeprazole and lorazepam were extracted with ethyl ether and quantitated using a reverse-phase C(18) column. The method was specific as there were no interfering peaks in the human plasma eluting at the retention times of rabeprazole and lorazepam. The method was fully validated in human plasma for the concentration range of 20.0-1000.0 ng/ml. The correlation coefficients were greater than 0.999. Extraction recoveries were 72.3% for the drug and 79.1% for the internal standard. The method was simple, reliable, and accurate for the quantitation of rabeprazole in human plasma. The same plasma samples, which were collected in healthy male volunteers administered a 20 mg tablet of Pariet, were analyzed by HPLC and LC/MS/MS. As a result of that, there was no significant difference between pharmacokinetic parameters. The suitability of HPLC method for pharmacokinetic studies was verified by determining the relevant pharmacokinetic parameters.     

Determination of 3α-hydroxytibolone by LC/MS/MS with electrospray ionization method and its application to bioequivalence study in human plasma

A specific and sensitive liquid chromatography?Ctandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) in the negative electrospray ionization mode was developed and validated in order to analyze 3??-hydroxytibolone (3??-OH-tibolone), major metabolite of tibolone in human plasma sample using only 200???L of plasma. 3??-OH-tibolone and 3??-OH-tibolone-d6 (internal standard, IS) in plasma were derivatized with p-toluenesulfonyl isocyanate after extraction using ethyl acetate. The dye residue and by-products was excluded using HLB Oasis SPE cartridge after derivertization. Separation of derivatized 3??-OH-tibolone and IS was performed on a C18 column within 6?min. The assay showed linearity in concentration ranges of 0.2?C20?ng/mL. Intra-day precision and accuracy ranged from 0.77 to 5.0?% and from 98.0 to 100.56?%, respectively. Inter-assay precision and accuracy ranged from 1.49 to 5.00?% and from 99.75 to 100.94?%, respectively. A specific, reproducible and sensitive LC/MS/MS method for quantification of 3??-OH-tibolone in human plasma was successfully applied to evaluate the bioequivalence of tibolone in human volunteer following single oral administration of 5?mg tibolone.