This work describes a liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) method for detection of desmopressin in human plasma in the low femtomolar range.Desmopressin is a synthetic analogue of the antidiuretic hormone arginine vasopressin and it might be used by athletes as masking agent in the frame of blood passport controls. Therefore, it was recently added by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to the list of prohibited substances in sport as a masking agent.
Mass spectrometry characterization of desmopressin was performed with a high-resolutionOrbitrap-based mass spectrometer. Detection of the peptide in the biological matrix was achieved using a triple quadrupole instrument with an electrospray ionization (ESI) interface after protein precipitation, weak cation solid phase extraction and HPLC separation with an octadecyl reverse phase column. Identification of desmopressin was performed using three product ions, m/z 328.0, m/z 120.0, and m/z 214.0, from the parent ion, m/z 535.5.The extraction efficiency of the method at the limit of detection was estimated at 40% (n=10), the ion suppression at 5% (n=10), and the limit of detection was 50 pg/ml (S/N> 3).Selectivity of the method was verified against several endogenous and synthetic desmopressin related peptides. The performance and the applicability of the method were tested by analysis of clinical samples after administration of desmopressin via intravenous, oral, and intranasal routes. Only after intravenous administration, desmopressin could be successfully detected.3