Rapid screening of clenbuterol in urine samples by desorption electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Rapid screening of clenbuterol in urine was performed by combining desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Optimization experiments were carried out including the selection of substrates, spray solutions, nebulizing gas pressures, high-voltage power supplies and flow rates of spray solution. The limit of detection (LOD), defined as the lowest quantity that can be detected, was 5.0 pg for the pure compound. Using DESI coupled with solid-phase extraction (SPE), the linear response range was from 10 to 400 ng/mL (R(2) = 0.993) and the concentration LOD for urine sample was 2.0 ng/mL. The analysis for one spiked urine sample was achieved within 4 min. In addition to the fast analysis speed, MS/MS provided structural information for the confirmation of clenbuterol. Urine samples from different people were investigated and the recoveries were within 100 +/- 20%. The developed method can potentially be used for screening of clenbuterol in doping control.