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Antipsychotic drugs are frequently associated with sudden death investigations. Detection of these drugs is necessary to establish their use and possible contribution to the death. LC-MS(MS) methods are common; however accurate and precise quantification is assured by using validated methods. This study compared extraction efficiency and matrix effects using common liquid-liquid and solid-phase extraction procedures in both ante-mortem and post-mortem specimen using LC-MS-MS. Extraction efficiencies and matrix effects were determined in five different blank blood specimens of each blood type. The samples were extracted using a number of different liquid-liquid extraction methods and compared with a standard mixed-mode solid-phase extraction method. Matrix effects were determined using a post-extraction addition approach-the blank blood specimens were extracted as described above and the extracts were reconstituted in mobile phase containing a known amount of analytes. The extraction comparison of ante-mortem and post-mortem blood showed considerable differences, in particular the extraction efficiency was quite different between ante-mortem and post-mortem blood. Quantitative methods used for determination of antipsychotic drugs in post-mortem blood should establish that there are no differences in extraction efficiency and matrix effects, particularly if using ante-mortem blood as calibrator.