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Quantitation of five organophosphorus nerve agent metabolites in serum using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

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Abstract

Although nerve agent use is prohibited, concerns remain for human exposure to nerve agents during decommissioning, research, and warfare. Exposure can be detected through the analysis of hydrolysis products in urine as well as blood. An analytical method to detect exposure to five nerve agents, including VX, VR (Russian VX), GB (sarin), GD (soman), and GF (cyclosarin), through the analysis of the hydrolysis products, which are the primary metabolites, in serum has been developed and characterized. This method uses solid-phase extraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography for separation and isotopic dilution tandem mass spectrometry for detection. An uncommon buffer of ammonium fluoride was used to enhance ionization and improve sensitivity when coupled with hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography resulting in detection limits from 0.3 to 0.5 ng/mL. The assessment of two quality control samples demonstrated high accuracy (101–105 %) and high precision (5–8 %) for the detection of these five nerve agent hydrolysis products in serum.

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The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Public Health Service, or the US Department of Health and Human Services.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA

    Elizabeth I. Hamelin, Rebecca L. Shaner, Brian S. Crow & Rudolph C. Johnson

  2. ORISE (Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education), Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA

    Nicholas D. Schulze & Rebecca M. Coleman

  3. U.S Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, R&T Directorate, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, MD, 21010, USA

    Richard J. Lawrence & E. M. Jakubowski

Authors
  1. Elizabeth I. Hamelin
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  2. Nicholas D. Schulze
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  3. Rebecca L. Shaner
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  4. Rebecca M. Coleman
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  5. Richard J. Lawrence
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  6. Brian S. Crow
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  7. E. M. Jakubowski
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  8. Rudolph C. Johnson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elizabeth I. Hamelin.

Additional information

Published in the topical collection Analysis of Chemicals Relevant to the Chemical Weapons Convention with guest editors Marc-Michael Blum and R. V. S. Murty Mamidanna.

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Hamelin, E.I., Schulze, N.D., Shaner, R.L. et al. Quantitation of five organophosphorus nerve agent metabolites in serum using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem 406, 5195–5202 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-014-7702-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-014-7702-2

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