Development and validation of a direct LC-MS-MS method to determine the acrolein metabolite 3-HPMA in urine

A new direct method using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry has been developed and validated for quantitation of 3-hydroxypropylmercapturic acid (3-HPMA) in urine. The method is fast, simple, and does not require extraction from urine. Analyte was separated on a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography column. Severe ion suppression was circumvented by a fast gradient after separation. Assay specificity, linearity, precision, and accuracy met the required FDA/CDER bioanalytical method criteria. Matrix effect and carryover of the assay were assessed. Urine sample storage stability and standard solution stability were also tested. The limit of quantitation was 22.0 ng/mL. The results for 3-HPMA obtained by our method were significantly correlated with results obtained by a contract lab.