Determination of anabolic steroids by HPLC with UV-vis-particle beam mass spectrometry

This paper describes a general screening method for the determination of anabolic steroids in oil-based injectables, water suspensions, dietary supplements, and herbal drugs marketed in the form of capsules or tablets. The compounds are extracted into methanol, separated on a reversed-phase column with an acetonitrile-water gradient, and detected by using an ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) photodiode array detector and a particle beam mass spectrometric detector coupled in series. Identification is based on retention time, UV-vis spectra, and mass spectra. Mass spectral confirmation is accomplished by matching with a standard when available and by comparison with an electron impact mass spectra library that is either commercially available or generated in our laboratory. The tandem arrangement of the detectors provides qualitative and quantitative information from a single experiment by fully utilizing the inherent advantages associated with each detector. This method is applicable to all the anabolic steroids encountered in this laboratory so far.