GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC ELECTRON-IMPACT MASS FRAGMENTOMETRIC DETERMINATION OF LYSERGIC-ACID DIETHYLAMIDE IN URINE

A sensitive method for the detection and quantitation of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in urine was developed. After initial solvent extraction, the compound was further purified by liquid-liquid extraction or by solid-phase extraction. The trimethylsilyl derivative of LSD was detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) operated in the electron-impact mode with selected-ion monitoring. The presence of LSD was confirmed by comparing retention times and relative abundances of ions of unknowns with that of a standard. The recovery of this procedure was > 89%. The intra-run and inter-run coefficients of variation were 5% and 7%, respectively. This procedure allows detection of LSD concentrations as low as 29 pg/ml. Quantitation of LSD was linear over the concentration range 50-2000 pg/ml. © 1990.