A sensitive LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of fluticasone propionate in human plasma

A sensitive and selective LC-(APCI) MS/MS method capable of quantifying flu ticasone propionate (FP) at levels dean to 10 pg ml(-1) in human plasma is reported. The method was validated over a linear range from 10 to 1000 pg m l(-1) using a previously published solid-phase extraction procedure with a C-13(3)-labeled internal standard. The inter and intra:batch precision (coe fficient of variation) and accuracy (% bias) of the quality controls sample s (20, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 pg ml(-1)) were less than 15 and 11%, respectively. The method is robust, rapid (analysis time of 2 min), select ive and hence is ideally suited for pharmacokinetic investigations involvin g inhalation of therapeutic doses of FP. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.