Dried blood spot (DBS) sample collection for determination of the oxidative stress biomarker 8‐epi‐PGF2α in humans using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

F2‐isoprostanes are a series of prostaglandin F2‐like compounds that are formed by free‐radical‐catalyzed peroxidation of arachidonic acid (ARA). Several F2‐isoprostanes, but in particular 8‐epi‐PGF_2α, are widely used as oxidative stress biomarkers. In this study we have developed an analytical tool for finger‐tip blood sampling and analysis of 8‐epi‐PGF_2α from dried blood spots (DBS).

We have applied solid‐phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) for the extraction, separation and detection of 8‐epi‐PGF_2α in DBS and have studied the stability of this marker using the DBS collection platform.

The mass limit of detection (mLOD) for 8‐epi‐PGF_2α extracted from DBS samples was 1.5 pg while the concentration limit of detection (cLOD) and concentration limit of quantitation (cLOQ) were 6 pg/mL and 18 pg/mL, respectively. All values based on triplicate analysis. Sufficient stability of 8‐epi‐PGF_2α in DBS was achieved by preconditioning DBS paper with vitamin E and BHT.

The developed method is sensitive, specific, robust, efficient, and can accurately measure endogenous concentrations of 8‐epi‐PGF_2α in DBS. Thus, it offers an analytical approach to measure 8‐epi‐PGF_2α by a novel sample collection technique that is less invasive and costly than conventional techniques. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.