High-throughput toxicological analysis of propofol in human whole blood by LC-MS

A new high-throughput liquid chromatography / mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method for the quantification of propofol in human whole blood was developed and validated. The separation was performed on a Gemini NX column under isocratic conditions using a mixture of 0.05 % ammonium hydroxide in water and methanol (23:77, v/v) with a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min. The detection was performed in SIM mode using an ion trap MS equipped with an APCI ion source using negative mode ionization. The whole blood samples (0.2 mL) were deproteinated with methanol before the analysis. The method showed a good linearity (r > 0.997), precision and accuracy (< 10.2%) over the concentration ranges of 0.05-1.2 mu g/mL. The method is not expensive, requires a minimum time for sample preparation and has a run-time of 1.5 min for instrument analysis (retention times for propofol was 0.78 min). The developed and validated LC-MS method is very simple and more rapid than other similar methods. It was successfully applied for the rapid quantification of propofol in human whole blood in forensic toxicology analyses.