HIGH-PRESSURE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY ELECTROCHEMICAL DETECTION METHOD FOR MONITORING MDA AND MDMA IN WHOLE-BLOOD AND OTHER BIOLOGICAL TISSUES/

The drug Ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetetmine (MDMA)) is one of several hallucinogenic amphetamine derivatives reported to be seroton ergic neurotoxins. The following is a description of a new high-pressu re liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analytical method for the analysis of MDMA, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and N-ethyl-3,4-methylenedi oxyamphetamine (MDE) from whole blood. Upon separation of MDMA, MDA an d MDE by HPLC, quantitation is achieved by use of electrochemical dete ction. Retention times for MDA, MDMA, and MDE are 6.5, 9.2, and 10.3 m in, respectively, allowing for a complete chromatographic run every 15 min. The sensitivity of the method is 1 ng/ml which allows for measur ement of MDA, MDMA, or MDE in microsamples of whole blood. The volume of blood required is very small (200 mu l); therefore, there is minima l blood loss in repeated blood sampling from small animals. Assay line arity was demonstrated from 1 ng/ml to at least 1 mu g/ml. The coeffic ients of variation for both intra-assay and inter-assay comparisons we re less than 9%. Other HPLC methods have been previously described for the analysis of amphetamine derivatives, but this new method offers g reater sensitivity, rapid turn-around time and ease of use.