Supported liquid extraction: a novel sample preparation method for small molecule extraction from biological matrices prior to high pressure liquid chromatography mass spectrometry analysis

Supported liquid extraction (ISOLUTE SLE+) is a relatively novel sample preparation methodology that can be used to extract a variety of basic, acidic and neutral small drug molecules from biological matrices (e.g. urine, serum, whole blood and oral fluid). Typically, endogenous interferences like proteins, phospholipids, lysophospholipids and ionic salts can cause clogging on HPLC columns and ion suppression in cases where a mass detector is used. Classical methods like solid phase extraction and liquid-liquid extraction are typically employed to extract small analytes from biological matrices. These classical methods can be laborious and inconsistent in their application. Supported liquid extraction is a faster and more efficient method that cleans up >95% of proteins, phospholipids and salts from biological matrices prior to injection onto a HPLC column and subsequent detection by UV-Vis or mass spectrometry.

This poster demonstrates the utility of SLE for extracting a variety of basic, acidic and neutral drugs in biological fluids that are typically analyzed in forensic and clinical laboratories.