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A semi-automated, 96-well based liquid-liquid back-extraction (LLE) procedure was developed and used for sample preparation of dextromethorphan (DEX), an active ingredient in many over-the-counter cough formulations, and dextrorphan (DOR), an active metabolite of DEX, in human plasma. The plasma extracts were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). The analytes were isolated from human plasma using an initial ether extraction, followed by a back extraction from the ether into a small volume of acidified water. The acidified water isolated from the back extraction was analyzed directly by LC-MS-MS, eliminating the need for a dry down step. A liquid handling system was utilized for all aspects of liquid transfers during the LLE procedure including the transfer of samples from individual tubes into a 96-well format, preparation of standards, addition of internal standard and the addition and transfer of the extraction solvents. The semi-automated, 96-well based LLE procedure reduced sample preparation time by a factor of four versus a comparable manually performed LLE procedure.

A stable-isotope based gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-negative ion chemical ionization method was developed for the determination of norepinephrine (NE) levels in small volumes (25-100 microl) of plasma. NE was stabilized in plasma by the addition of semicarbazide and spiked with deuterium-labeled norepinephrine internal standard. The analytes were isolated from the plasma by solid-phase extraction using phenylboronic acid columns and derivatized using pentafluoropropionic anhydride. The derivatized analytes were chromatographed on a capillary column and detected by tandem mass spectrometry with negative ion chemical ionization. Unparalleled sensitivity and selectivity were obtained using this detection scheme, allowing the unambiguous analysis of trace levels of NE in small-volume plasma samples. Linear standard curves were obtained for NE over a mass range from 1 to 200 pg per sample. The method had a limit of quantitation of 10 pg NE/ml plasma when using a 100-microl sample aliquot (1 pg/sample). Accuracy for the analysis of plasma samples spiked with 10 to 200 pg NE/ml typically ranged from 100+/-10%, with RSD values of less than 10%. The methodology was applied to determine the effect of clonidine on plasma NE levels in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats. Administration of clonidine (30 microg/kg) produced an approximately 80% reduction in plasma NE accompanied by a 30% reduction in heart and mean arterial pressure that persisted >90 min after drug administration. The ability to take multiple samples from individual rats allowed the time course for the effect of clonidine to be mapped out using only one group of animals.