Solid-phase dispersive extraction method for analysis of benzodiazepine drugs in serum and urine samples

A simple yet highly efficient pretreatment method called solid-phase dispersive extraction (SPDE) was developed and used in combination with liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC/TOF-MS) for the analysis of benzodiazepines (BZPs) in serum and urine samples. By using a custom-made centrifugal filter, SPDE could be performed in a closed system, thereby minimizing exposure to infectious microbes or hazardous chemicals. The limit of detection and the limit of quantification of nine BZPs were 1-10 and 5-50ng/mL, respectively. The average recoveries of BZPs from pooled serum samples spiked at 50 and 500ng/mL were 89.6-105.0% (RSD: 2.1-6.8%) and 93.6-110.4% (RSD: 2.1-4.2%), respectively, and those from urine samples were 88.7-105.5% (RSD: 2.9-6.4%) and 91.5-101.1% (RSD: 3.6-5.5%), respectively. SPDE-LC/TOF-MS has potential application in forensic science and emergency medicine.