Determination of pipecolic acid in serum or plasma by solid-phase extraction and isotope dilution mass spectrometry.

The determination of pipecolic acid in serum or plasma by positive chemical ionization gas chromatography/mass spectrometry is assessed. This quantitative method involves stable isotope dilution and cation-exchange solid-phase extraction. Several derivatives of pipecolic acid and its octadeuterated analogue were investigated for their mass spectrometric characteristics.