A simple, rapid and sensitive UFLC-MS/MS method for the quantification of oral contraceptive norgestrel in human plasma and its pharmacokinetic applications.

A simple, rapid and sensitive ultra flow liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UFLC-MS/MS) assay for the determination of norgestrel in human plasma was developed using levonorgestrel D6 as an internal standard (IS). Norgestrel and IS were extracted from human plasma via liquid-liquid extraction. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Zorbax XDB-Phenyl column under isocratic conditions. Detection was done by tandem mass spectrometry, operating in positive ion mode. The protonated precursor to product ion transitions monitored for norgestrel and IS were at m/z 313.30→245.40 and 319.00→251.30 respectively. The method was fully validated as per current regulatory guidelines. Anticoagulant counter ion effect was also assessed with K2EDTA and K3EDTA. The method was validated with a linearity range of 304.356-50 807.337 pg/mL having run time of 2.0 min per sample. The method has shown tremendous reproducibility with intra- and inter-day precision (%CV) less than 11.0% and intra- and inter-day accuracy less than 9.0% of nominal values. The validated method was applied to a pharmacokinetic study in human plasma samples generated after administrating a single oral dose of 0.3 mg norgestrel tablets to healthy female volunteers and has proved to be highly reliable for the analysis of clinical samples.