Analysis of Hydroxychloroquine and Metabolites in Human Whole Blood Using the Agilent Captiva EMR—Lipid by LC/TQ

Significance of the Topic

Analysis of hydroxychloroquine and its metabolites in human whole blood is critical for clinical pharmacokinetic studies, therapeutic drug monitoring, and safety evaluation of antimalarial and immunomodulatory treatments.

Objectives and Study Overview

This study describes the development and validation of a quantitative method for hydroxychloroquine, desethylhydroxychloroquine, desethylchloroquine, and bis-desethylchloroquine in human whole blood. The goal was to achieve high accuracy and precision in a streamlined workflow suitable for research applications.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Sample preparation combined protein precipitation with an Agilent Captiva EMR Lipid cleanup in a 96-well format. After centrifugation, extracts underwent lipid removal under controlled pressure, drying, and reconstitution in 95/5 acetonitrile water with formic acid.

Used Instrumentation

• Agilent Captiva EMR Lipid 96-well plate and positive pressure manifold
• Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse XBD-C8 column (2.1 x 50 mm, 3.5 µm)
• Agilent LC/TQ system operated with MRM acquisition

Results and Discussion

The method demonstrated recovery rates above 80% across analytes and concentration levels, with negligible matrix effects. Calibration curves in whole blood showed linearity up to 120 ng/mL (R2 > 0.995). Accuracy ranged from 96 to 108% and precision (CV) remained below 10% at low and high concentrations.

Benefits and Practical Applications

The workflow offers rapid preparation, efficient lipid removal, and reliable quantitation suitable for high throughput research settings. It supports pharmacokinetic profiling of hydroxychloroquine and metabolites and may be adapted for related compounds.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Integration with automated sample handling, expansion to ultra performance LC and high resolution mass spectrometry, and application to personalized dosing studies represent key future directions. The approach may also extend to other lipid rich matrices and emerging therapeutic agents.

Conclusion

A robust LC/TQ method employing protein precipitation and EMR Lipid cleanup was established for hydroxychloroquine and its metabolites in whole blood. The procedure delivers high confidence in accuracy, precision, and throughput for research applications.

References

No external literature references were provided in the original text.