Determination of four immunosuppressive drugs in whole blood using MEPS and LC–MS/MS allowing automated sample work-up and analysis

In treatment with immunosuppressive drugs, monitoring of blood drug concentration is needed. The aim of this work was to explore micro extraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) as a possible on-line sample preparation method in combination with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) for quantification of cyclosporine, everolimus, sirolimus and tacrolimus in whole blood. An automated on-line MEPS system connected with a LC–MS/MS instrument was set up. A C8 sorbent was used for the MEPS extraction. Subsequent analysis was performed with a gradient LC system. The adduct ions [M + NH4]+ of the analytes were monitored in SRM mode for quantification. Ascomycin and cyclosporine D were used as internal standards. The chromatographic run time 2.5 min and the quantification ranges were 3–1500 ng/mL (r2 ≥ 0.999, n = 6) for cyclosporine and 0.5–50 ng/mL for everolimus, sirolimus and tacrolimus (r2 ≥ 0.998, 0.994 and 0.993, respectively, n = 6). Precision and accuracy were documented at three levels. Accuracy results were between 102% and 109% with precision between 2% and 13% and carry over <0.02%. Matrix effects were characterized and found to be below 20%. The quantifications obtained were in agreement with a reference LC–MS/MS method based on protein precipitation, and results obtained from external proficiency test samples compared with the mean of all other LC–mass spectrometry methods showed good agreement. This method provides an accurate, precise and automated procedure that can be applied for therapeutic drug monitoring of immunosuppressive drugs in clinical laboratories equipped with LC–MS/MS.