Rapid and sensitive analysis of valproic acid in human red blood cell by LC-MS/MS

A sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was developed to determine valproic acid in human red blood cell (RBC). It is important to measure the drug concentration of the RBC as well as that of the plasma because of drug partitioning for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study. The method was linear over the dynamic range of 1-100 μg/mL with a correlation coefficient r = 0.9997. The linearity of this method was established from 1 to 100 μg/mL for valproic acid in red blood cell with accuracy and precision within 15% at all concentrations. The intra-run and inter-run assay accuracy and coefficient of variations are all within 15% for all QC samples prepared in plasma and red blood human samples. Then, valproic acid amount by protein precipitation in plasma was quantified by LC-MS/MS mass spectrometry. The distribution ratio of VPA in RBC and plasma was analyzed by clinical samples. Based on measurement of the valproic acid in human red blood cell, this method has been applied to clinical research for study of distribution ratio of valproic acid in blood.