Determination of testosterone in human hair by gas chromatography-selected ion monitoring mass spectrometry

• Published in: Analyst (London) Vol. 123; no. 12; p. 2661
• Main Authors: Scherer, C, Wachter, U, Wudy, S A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-12-1998
• Subjects: Female; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Hair - chemistry; Humans; Male; Sensitivity and Specificity; Substance Abuse Detection; Testosterone - analysis
• ISSN: 0003-2654
• DOI: 10.1039/a805131c

A method for the determination of testosterone in human hair by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using d3-testosterone as internal standard is described. Our method consisted of alkaline digestion, fast liquid-liquid extraction, LH-20 chromatography and derivatization with heptafluorobutyric anhydride. Quantification was achieved by selected ion monitoring of m/z 680 (testosterone) and m/z 683 (d3-testosterone). Our method needed no complex corrections for isotope contributions. The procedure provided a sensitive and specific technique with good accuracy and precision. For the first time, testosterone has been quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in human hair. The concentrations (median, range, ng g-1 hair) reflected a significant (p = 0.05; t-test) sex difference with 2.7 ng g-1 (2.5-4.2) in male and 1.7 ng g-1 (1.0-3.4) in female hair.