Improved sample preparation for the quantitative analysis of paroxetine in human plasma by stable isotope dilution negative ion chemical ionisation gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

An improved sample work-up and derivatisation procedure for the quantitative determination of paroxetine in human plasma by gas chromatography–negative ion chemical ionisation mass spectrometry is presented. Solvent extraction from plasma samples at alkaline pH was combined with derivatisation to the pentafluorobenzyl carbamate derivative in one step and subsequently analysed without any further purification. Thus, lengthy and time-consuming solvent evaporation steps are avoided to assure high-throughput analysis. Complete validation data are presented. The method is rugged, rapid and robust and has been applied to the batch analysis of paroxetine during pharmacokinetic profiling of the drug.