Method for confirmation of synthetic corticosteroids in doping urine samples by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

In this study, we report on the development of a method to confirm simultan eously nine of the most commonly abused synthetic corticosteroids in urine based on liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry. A considerable simplified sample preparation procedure, including liquid-liq uid phase extraction with Extrelut-NT3 columns, provided both excellent sam ple purification and high overall recoveries. Complete HPLC separations wer e obtained on a reversed-phase column with 1 mM ammonium acetate-acetonitri le (60:40, v/v) as mobile phase. Mass spectral acquisition was done in the negative ion, and selected ion monitoring modes to identify the drugs with at least three characteristic ions. Detection limits were determined at les s than or equal to1 ng/ml and the confirmation limits at 1 to 5 ng/ml. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.