Determination of Methamphetamine and Amphetamine in Hair by Mixed-Mode Anion Exchange Solid Phase Extraction and Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Methamphetamine is one of the most widely used sympathomimetic amines in Asia. To identify cases of methamphetamine abuse and to estimate its abuse, hair segmental analysis is used extensively. However, existing hair analysis has several limitations due to matrix interferences. In an attempt to resolve these issues, a simple, rapid, and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method is reported for the determination of methamphetamine and amphetamine in human hair with anion exchange solid phase extraction. Hair dissolved in sodium hydroxide was loaded on a mixed-mode anion exchange cartridge and amphetamine and methamphetamine were eluted with methanol in less than ten minutes followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The recovery of this method was between 93.9 and 102.0 percent. The limits of detection and quantitation were 0.01 and 0.05 nanograms per milligram for both analytes. The accuracy and precision were satisfactory for quantitative analysis. The suitability of the method for practical analysis was investigated using hair from methamphetamine users.