Mixed-mode SPE for a multi-residue analysis of benzodiazepines in whole blood using rapid GC with negative-ion chemical ionization MS.

A sensitive and selective method for simultaneous quantitation of 15 benzodiazepines in human whole blood using rapid GC with negative-ion chemical ionization MS is proposed. A mixed-mode cation-exchange polymeric sorbent was used for SPE. Different extraction solvents or mixtures of solvents of different compositions for elution of the adsorbed analytes, and washing steps for eliminating interferences in the column were tested. Analytes were eluted from the column using 5% v/v NH4 OH in methanol. A derivatization step using different silylation reagents, time, and temperature was tested. Extracts from SPE were silylated by a mixture of N-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-N-methyltrifluoroacetamide, acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, and subjected to gas chromatographic analysis. The LODs of 15 benzodiazepines in whole blood samples ranged from 0.24-0.62 ng mL(-1). The RSDs of samples used for three different quality control concentration levels were lower than 7.0%, and the accuracy ranged from 89.5 to 110.5%. The results show that the developed method is accurate, sensitive, selective, and very fast. Finally, the applicability of this method for determination of trace concentrations of several benzodiazepines in real blood samples has been demonstrated.