Liquid chromatography-fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry for detection and determination of pentazocine in human tissues

A reliable and sensitive method was developed for the detection and determi nation of pentazocine in human solid tissues using liquid chromatography-dy namic fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry, combined with a three- step liquid-liquid extraction procedure. Levallorphan tartrate served as an internal standard. The extract was evaporated to dryness and dissolved in the mobile phase, acetonitrile-10 mM ammonium acetate solution (20:80, pH 4 .0) containing 0.5% glycerol as FAB matrix. The eluent was pumped at a flow rate of 25 mu l/min and split before introduction to FAB mass spectrometer . Quantitative analysis was carried out by means of monitoring quasi-molecu lar ions with m/z 286 for pentazocine and m/z 284 for levallorphan. The low er limit of detection of pentazocine in each tissue tested was 1 ng/g with scan mode and 0.1 ng/g with SIM mode. Using this method, the concentrations of pentazocine were determined in the tissues of an autopsied individual t o perform toxicological evaluation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All righ ts reserved.