Dried Blood Spot (DBS) Sample Collection for Determination of the Oxidative Stress Biomarker 8-epi-PGF(2α) in Humans Using Liquid Chromatography/tandem Mass Spectrometry

Rationale: F2-isoprostanes are a series of prostaglandin F2-like compounds that are formed by free-radical-catalyzed peroxidation of arachidonic acid (ARA). Several F2-isoprostanes, but in particular 8-epi-PGF(2α), are widely used as oxidative stress biomarkers. In this study we have developed an analytical tool for finger-tip blood sampling and analysis of 8-epi-PGF(2α) from dried blood spots (DBS).

Methods: We have applied solid-phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) for the extraction, separation and detection of 8-epi-PGF(2α) in DBS and have studied the stability of this marker using the DBS collection platform.

Results: The mass limit of detection (mLOD) for 8-epi-PGF(2α) extracted from DBS samples was 1.5 pg while the concentration limit of detection (cLOD) and concentration limit of quantitation (cLOQ) were 6 pg/mL and 18 pg/mL, respectively. All values based on triplicate analysis. Sufficient stability of 8-epi-PGF(2α) in DBS was achieved by preconditioning DBS paper with vitamin E and BHT.

Conclusions: The developed method is sensitive, specific, robust, efficient, and can accurately measure endogenous concentrations of 8-epi-PGF(2α) in DBS. Thus, it offers an analytical approach to measure 8-epi-PGF(2α) by a novel sample collection technique that is less invasive and costly than conventional techniques.