Direct (non-chromatographic) quantification of drugs and their metabolites from human plasma utilizing chemical ionization mass spectrometry and stable isotope labeling: quinidine and lidocaine.

Preliminary results are reported for the quantitative determination of the antiarrhythmic agents quinidine and lidocaine in human plasma by combined isobutane chemical ionization mass spectrometry and stable isotope labeling. The concentration of monoethylglycinexylidide, a known metabolite of lidocaine, was also determined using this method. In the procedure used, stable isotope analogs of the materials to be determined were added to serial plasma samples. The plasma was then made basic and extracted with benzene. The residue after evaporation of the solvent was placed directly into the mass spectrometer via the direct insertion probe and the spectrum determined. In this manner the above named compounds could readily be quantitated without recourse to either derivitization or further purification.