Micro-SPE in pipette tips as a tool for analysis of small-molecule drugs in serum

Abstract Aim: Micro-SPE in pipette tips (μ-SPE-PT) with particle sorbent has never been used in small-molecule drug analysis. Methodology & results: μ-SPE-PT was used for the extraction of statins from biological materials followed by UHPLC–MS/MS. The commercial and homemade μ-SPE-PT tips filled with particle sorbent were compared. While the homemade tips enabled direct serum sample loading into the sorbent, protein precipitation (PP) had to be implemented before μ-SPE-PT procedure using commercial tips. Three μ-SPE-PT methods were developed and validated: method A: μ-SPE-PT with homemade tips; method B: PP + μ-SPE-PT with homemade tips; and method C: PP + μ-SPE-PT with...