Single-laboratory validation of a method for the determination of vitamin D3 in dietary supplements by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

A single-laboratory validation (SLV) for the analysis of vitamin D3 was performed in four types of dietary supplements (capsules, soft gels, syrups, and tablets) using LC-MS/MS. Samples were treated by alkaline saponification for oil-based soft gels and utilized EDTA solution for capsules, syrups, and tablets prior to n-hexane extraction. Vitamin D3 in sample extracts was separated on a reversed-phase C18 column (100 x 2.1 mm, 2.7 pm) using a mobile phase of a 95 + 5 (v/v) mixture of 5 mM ammonium formate in methanol containing 0.1% formic acid and 5 mM ammonium formate in 0.1% formic acid running at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. Vitamin D3 was confirmed by the presence of three fragment ions at m/z 107, 159, and 259 within a defined retention time window from the precursor ion at m/z 385. Quantitation was based on the peak area at m/z 367 to that of the internal standard (d3-vitamin D3) at m/z 370 with reference to the respective response ratios of the calibration standards. The linear response of vitamin D3 ranged from 0.10 to 6.29 mg/L and the correlation coefficient (r) of the six-point calibration curves was > 0.999. Accuracy, in terms of the spiked recoveries from blank syrup and starch powder at three different concentration levels, was 101-103%. Precision, determined by two different analysts over a period of 5 weeks, ranged from 2.7 to 7.0% for the four preparations. The SLV demonstrates the present LC-MS/MS method is reliable and robust for the determination of vitamin D3 in the studied dietary supplements. Considering the attainment of satisfactory SLV results, further validation through intra-laboratory collaborative study is recommended.

Single-Laboratory Validation of a Method for the Determination of Vitamin D3 in Dietary Supplements by Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

A single-laboratory validation (SLV) for the analysis of vitamin D3 was performed in four types of dietary supplements (capsules, soft gels, syrups, and tablets) using LC-MS/MS. Samples were treated by alkaline saponification for oil-based soft gels and utilized EDTA solution for capsules, syrups, and tablets prior to n-hexane extraction. Vitamin D3 in sample extracts was separated on a reversed-phase C18 column (100 × 2.1 mm, 2.7 µm) using a mobile phase of a 95 + 5 (v/v) mixture of 5 mM ammonium formate in methanol containing 0.1% formic acid and 5 mM ammonium formate in 0.1% formic acid running at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. Vitamin D3 was confirmed by the presence of three fragment ions at m/z 107, 159, and 259 within a defined retention time window from the precursor ion at m/z 385. Quantitation was based on the peak area at m/z 367 to that of the internal standard (d3-vitamin D3) at m/z 370 with reference to the respective response ratios of the calibration standards. The linear response of vitamin D3 ranged from 0.10 to 6.29 mg/L and the correlation coefficient (r) of the six-point calibration curves was >0.999. Accuracy, in terms of the spiked recoveries from blank syrup and starch powder at three different concentration levels, was 101-103%. Precision, determined by two different analysts over a period of 5 weeks, ranged from 2.7 to 7.0% for the four preparations. The SLV demonstrates the present LC-MS/MS method is reliable and robust for the determination of vitamin D3 in the studied dietary supplements. Considering the attainment of satisfactory SLV results, further validation through intra-laboratory collaborative study is recommended.

A 7-year-old boy dying of acute encephalopathy.

A 7 year old Chinese boy died of a rapidly progressive encephalopathy after influenza infection. MRI showed bilateral and symmetrical lesions including the thalamus and brainstem tegmentum. The pathology of necrosis and vasculopathy were in keeping with acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE). ANE was first described in Japan and carries a high mortality and morbidity. A vasculopathy with breakdown of the blood-brain-barrier was incriminated but the pathogenesis remained obscure and autopsy studies have been limited. A review of the literature showed only nine postmortem reports in the acute stage. Symmetrical brain necrosis always involved the thalamus followed by the tegmentum of the pons and other regions. Exudative vasculopathy was commonly observed and often accompanied by endothelial cell necrosis. In the present case there was inflammatory fibrinoid vasculitis which has not been previously described.

Preparation of reference material for organochlorine pesticides in a herbal matrix.

The development of reference material for four organochlorine pesticides, namely hexachlorobenzene and three isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane, beta-hexachlorocyclohexane and gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane), in a ginseng root sample is presented. Raw materials (Panax ginseng) were purchased from a local market and confirmed to contain certain levels of incurred organochlorine pesticide residues by a validated gas chromatography-mass selective detection method. A total of more than 300 bottles each containing 25 g of samples were prepared after the materials had been freeze-dried, milled and thoroughly mixed. The homogeneity and stability of samples from randomly selected bottles were verified and the reference values were characterized using a highly precise isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (ID-GCMS) method that was recently developed by our laboratory. The purity of standard organochlorine chemicals was determined against certified reference materials to establish the accuracy of the ID-GCMS analysis. The concentrations (+/- expanded uncertainty) of hexachlorobenzene, alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane, beta-hexachlorocyclohexane and gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane in the reference material were 0.198 +/- 0.015, 0.450 +/- 0.022, 0.213 +/- 0.011 and 0.370 +/- 0.032 mg kg(-1), respectively. A portion (70 bottles) of the samples was also used in a proficiency testing (PT) scheme for assessing the testing capabilities of field laboratories. The consensus mean values of the PT obtained from the 70 participants were on the same order but deviated by -2.7 to -14.1% from those of the assigned reference values. Because of the wide spread of participants' data (relative standard deviation ranging from 44 to 56%), the PT results were not included in the calculation of the assigned values of the reference materials. The materials served as suitable reference materials to ascertain the quality control and validation processes for the determination of organochlorine pesticides in herbal matrices.

Interlaboratory comparison for the determination of five residual organochlorine pesticides in ginseng root samples by gas chromatography.

An interlaboratory comparison study for the determination of 5 residual organochlorine pesticides (hexachlorobenzene and 4 hexachlorocyclohexane isomers) in ginseng root was performed. This program [Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) T049] was the first of its kind for an herbal matrix and involved the participation of 70 laboratories from 26 countries worldwide. Consensus mean values were computed statistically from the reported results, which were eventually used to assess the performance of individual laboratories in terms of the z-scores. The distribution of analytical data was found to be widespread, with standard deviation ranging from 43.9 to 55.9%, and the result patterns obtained were similar to those residue pesticide programs using other matrixes. Although the estimation of measurement uncertainty is a crucial requirement for all quantitative tests for laboratories that meet the requirements of International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commisssion (ISO/IEC) 17025, some laboratories in this program had difficulties and showed unfamiliarity with respect to that quality criterion. It was recommended that laboratories review and rectify the situation promptly so that they would have a better understanding of measurement uncertainty or the test service provided.

Application of isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in analysis of organochlorine pesticide residues in ginseng root.

A highly accurate and precise method based on isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was developed for the determination of five matrix-bound organochlorine pesticides, namely, hexachlorobenzene and hexachlorocyclohexanes (alpha-, beta-, delta-, and gamma- isomers), in a reference sample of Panax gingseng. Identification of the analytes was confirmed under selective ion monitoring mode by the presence of two dominant ion fragments within the specific time windows (+/-1% of the relative retention time with respect to the calibration standards) and matching of relative ion intensities of the concerned ions in samples and calibration standards (within +/-5%). Quantification was based on the measurement of concentration ratios of the natural and isotopic analogues in the sample and calibration blends. To circumvent the tedious iterative process of exact isotope matching that is often used in isotope dilution mass spectrometry analysis, a single-point calibration procedure was adopted with the isotopic amount ratios in the sample and calibration blends close to unity (0.9-1.1). Under the described approach, intraday and interday repeatability of replicate analyses of organochlorine pesticides in the ginseng root sample were below 1.4%. The expanded relative uncertainty ranging from 4.0 to 6.5% at a coverage factor of 2 was significantly lower than those of conventional gas chromatographic methods using other calibration techniques (internal or external standards). A deviation of less than 2.0% from the certified values was achieved when applying the developed method to determine hexachlorobenzene, alpha-, and beta-hexachlorocyclohexane in a certified reference material (CRM), BCR-CRM 115. Because of the unavailability of relevant CRMs of herbal origins, the concerned ginseng root sample, after verification of the "true values" of the concerned organochlorine pesticides by the valid primary method, is suitable for serving as an in-house reference material for quality assurance and method validation purposes.

Quantitative analysis of lincomycin in animal tissues and bovine milk by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

A sensitive method for determining lincomycin in bovine milk, animal muscles and organs using liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS/MS) is presented. Milk and homogenized animal tissues were extracted with acetonitrile twice after addition of an appropriate amount of clindamycin, a lincosamide analogue as the internal standard. The combined extracts were finally made up to 10 ml with distilled water and partitioned with hexane to remove the animal fats prior to analysis. Analytes in the extracts were separated on a reversed phase C18 column (250 mm x 2.1 mm, 5 microm) using a mobile phase of a 3:7 (v/v) mixture of 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile and an ammonium formate buffer (ammonium formate:formic acid:acetonitrile:water, 1:5:50:950, v/v/v/v) running at a flow rate of 0.2 ml min(-1). Presence of lincomycin was confirmed by the presence of two characteristic product ions at m/z 126.1 and 359.2 within a defined retention time window from the precursor ion at m/z 407.2, whilst quantification was based on the relative ratio of the sum of the peak areas at m/z 126.1 and 359.2 for lincomycin to that of the internal standard (peaks at m/z 126.1 and 377.2) with reference to the respective ratios of the calibration standards. The validated method that was found to have linear responses in the calibration range from 25 to 3000 microg kg(-1) and satisfactory intra-day and inter-day accuracy (94.4-107.8%) and precision (1.3-7.8%) at concentrations ranging from 100 to 1500 microg kg(-1) has been applied to real samples and matrix spiked samples. It is considered robust and suitable for analysis of lincomycin in milk and animal tissues.