Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Integration of Miniaturized Solid Phase Extraction and LC-MS/MS Detection of 3-Nitrotyrosine in Human Urine for Clinical Applications
Published on: July 14, 2017
Analysis of catecholamines in urine by positive-ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry
Mark M Kushnir1, Francis M Urry, Elizabeth L Frank
1ARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology, 500 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA. kushnmm@aruplab.com
Background:
Determination of urinary catecholamines (CATs) is considered important for clinical diagnosis of pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma, and neuroblastoma. The major disadvantages of existing tests include relatively long instrumental analysis time and potential interference from drugs and drug metabolites that are structurally similar to CATs.
Methods:
CATs were extracted from a 300-microL aliquot of urine by a two-step liquid-liquid extraction method specific for compounds containing a catechol group. Chromatographic separation did not require the use of ion-pairing reagents, which typically hinder MS detection but are frequently used in HPLC analysis of CATs. Instrumental analysis was performed by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) in the multiple-reaction monitoring mode. Stable-isotope-labeled CATs were used as internal standards.
Results:
Epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (D) were measured within 3.5 min instrumental run time. Quantification limits were 2.5 microg/L for E and D and 10 microg/L for NE. The total imprecision (CV) was < or =9.6%; extraction recoveries were 71% +/- 12%.
Conclusions:
HPLC with ESI-MS/MS in combination with sample preparation specific to catechol group-containing compounds allows rapid testing for disorders associated with increased CAT concentrations. The method is free of interferences from drugs and drug metabolites, which commonly interfere with HPLC methods.
More Related Videos
13:35A Convenient Method for Extraction and Analysis with High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography of Catecholamine Neurotransmitters and Their Metabolites
Published on: March 1, 2018
10:17High-throughput and Comprehensive Drug Surveillance Using Multisegment Injection-Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry
Published on: April 23, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Chemical Ionization (CI) Mass Spectrometry
Electrospray Ionization (ESI) Mass Spectrometry
ESI utilizes electrical energy to transfer ions from the liquid phase of the sample into the...
Mass Spectrometry of Amines
Peptide Identification Using Tandem Mass Spectrometry
This technique helps gather information regarding the protein from which the peptide was obtained and to study the peptides’ amino acid sequence. Identifying peptides from a complex mixture is an important component of the growing field of...
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Ion-Exchange Chromatography