ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To develop a method for determination of clozapine, olanzapine and mirtazapine in human plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS).@*METHODS@#Clozapine, olanzapine and mirtazapine were extracted from plasma samples by using diethyl ether and separated by Agilent Zorbax SB-C18 column(2.1 mm x 150 mm, 5 microm). Electrospray ionization source was applied, positive ion mode was used to detect and multiple reaction monitoring mode was used to quantify clozapine, olanzapine and mirtazapine. Carbamazepine was the internal standard.@*RESULTS@#The detection limits of clozapine, olanzapine and mirtazapine were within 0.41-0.92 ng/mL. The calibration curve in the concentration range of 10.0-2000.0 ng/mL showed a good linear distribution (r > or = 0.992 4). The average extraction recoveries were within 65.7%-94.2%. Intra-day RSD and inter-day RSD were less than 6% (n = 5).@*CONCLUSION@#This method seems to be quite specific, sensitive and accurate, and can be used to detect clozapine, olanzapine and mirtazapine in forensic and clinical analytic toxicology.