Development of the MAE/UHPLC-MS-TOF method for determination of benzodiazepines in human bio-fluids for toxicological...

A rapid method of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) followed by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry with time of flight detection (UHPLC-MS-TOF) was optimized and validated for the purpose of determination of five benzodiazepines in human serum and blood samples. Extraction parameters and conditions of the UHPLC-MS-TOF method were defined. Validation of the developed method was performed at three concentration levels: 10, 100 and 250 ng/mL of each drug for both serum and blood samples. For serum and blood the limit of detection was found in the ranges 0.46-2.58 ng/mL and 0.43-1.87 ng/mL, precision (RSD): 0.3-6.7% and 0.9-8.4%, accuracy of the assay (RE): -5.3 to +2.4% and -5.7 to +7.6%, recovery: 80.5-104.3% and 79.9-106.9%, matrix effects: 95.9-110.5% and 97.5-114.2%, respectively. Moreover, the optimized and validated MAE/UHPLC-MS-TOF method was applied to analysis of blood samples.