Automated determination of folate catabolites in human biofluids (urine, breast milk and serum) by on-line SPE–HILIC–MS/MS

J Chromatogr A. 2010 Jul 9;1217(28):4688-95. doi: 10.1016/j.chroma.2010.05.010.

Abstract

A rapid, precise and fully-automated method for analysis of folate (vitamin B9) and its catabolites (viz. p-aminobenzoylglutamate and its acetamide derivative) in biofluids is here presented. The method is based on on-line hyphenation of solid-phase extraction (SPE) by a Prospekt 2 system with hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC–MS/MS). The method was analytically characterized by estimation of repeatability (RSD, n = 5, between 0.5 and 4.1%), accuracy (between 96 and 105%), and sensitivity (limits of quantificantion between 0.3 and 8.3 ng/mL (1.1 and 18.8 pmol/mL) or 0.03 and 0.83 ng (0.11 and 1.88 pmol)). The proposed method is suited for routine analysis of folate catabolites as biomarkers to monitor deficiency of vitamin B9.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Automation
  • Chromatography, Liquid / methods*
  • Folic Acid / analysis*
  • Folic Acid / blood
  • Folic Acid / urine
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Linear Models
  • Milk, Human / chemistry*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Solid Phase Extraction / methods*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods*

Substances

  • Folic Acid