An ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantification of teicoplanin in plasma of neonates

The development and validation of an ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) method was performed with the aim to be applied for the quantification of plasma teicoplanin concentrations in neonates. Pharmacokinetic data of teicoplanin in the neonatal population is very limited, therefore, a sensitive and reliable method for the determination of all isoforms of teicoplanin applied in a low volume of sample is of real importance. Teicoplanin main components were extracted by a simple acetonitrile precipitation step and analysed on a C18 chromatographic column by a triple quadrupole MS with electrospray ionization. The method provides quantitative data over a linear range of 25-6400 ng/mL with LOD 8.5 ng/mL and LOQ 25 ng/mL for total teicoplanin. The method was applied in plasma samples from neonates to support pharmacokinetic data and proved to be a reliable and fast method for the quantification of teicoplanin concentration levels in plasma of infants during therapy in Intensive Care Unit.