Abstract

In this study we evaluated the feasibility of automating the extraction of conjugated compounds from urine using a 96-well microtiter plate format for analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In summary, we have developed a fully-automated, walk-away urine extraction procedure that is more efficient; requiring only about 45 minutes to complete solid-phase extraction (SPE) extraction of 96 samples. This is in contrast to our current method using Rapid Trace Liquid handler modules that takes more than three hours to extract a similar number of samples and requires manual addition of internal standard, buffer and enzyme. Furthermore, the frontend aliquoting step into 96-well plates can also be automated further reducing human error, manual pipetting steps and labor costs. Additional studies are currently underway to further improve the method in order to increase its sensitivity for detecting various compounds and for automating the derivatization step using a PAL GC autosampler (Leap Technologies) equipped with a heating block. Aus dem Text