Liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric screening and confirmation methods for beta(2)-agonists in human or equine urine

Electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectra of 19 common beta(2)-agonists were investigated in terms of fragmentation pattern and dissociation behavior of the analytes, proving the origin of fragment ions and indicating mechanisms of charge-driven and charge-remote fragmentation. Based on these data, liquid chromatographic/ESI tandem mass spectrometric (LC/ESI-MS/MS) screening and confirmation methods were developed for doping control purposes. These procedures employ established sample preparation steps including either acidic or enzymatic hydrolysis, alkaline extraction and, in the case of equine urine specimens, acidic re-extraction of the analytes. In addition, a degradation product of formoterol caused by acidic hydrolysis during sample preparation could be identified and utilized as target compound in screening and also confirmation methods. The screening procedures cover 18 or 19beta(2)-agonists, the estimated limits of detection of which for equine and human urine samples vary between 2 and 100 ng ml(-1) and between 2 and 50 ng ml(-1), respectively. A single LC/MS/MS analysis can be performed in 9 min. Copyright (C) 2003 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.