Rapid screening of 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose infusions for volatile organic compound contaminants by solid phase microextraction with gas chromatography—selective ion monitoring mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-SIMMS)

A method compatible with radioactive samples, capable of detecting trace volatile components in a sample volume of ca. 1 cm3 of 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose solution is described. The approach, based on solid phase micro-extraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with a carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane based fibre, was optimised with respect to extraction time (10 min), extraction temperature (60°C) and phase volume ratio (1). The analysis time, including extraction, was less than 20 min with linear responses for acetonitrile and ethanol over the ranges: 0.09–80 μgcm−3 (22°C, acetonitrile) and 0.78–79 μgcm−3 (22°C, ethanol). The detection limits were estimated to be ca. 0.78 μgcm−3 for ethanol and 0.09 μgcm−3 for acetonitrile. Stability studies indicated analyte losses of up to 75% over 24 h and analysis of aged 2-[18F]FDG samples showed that levels of ethanol and acetonitrile were not less than 100 μgcm−3, indicative of levels substantially greater than this in the original infusions given to human subjects.