Quantification of acarbose in human plasma by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

The method for the determination of acarbose in human plasma is described, using high-performance liquid chromatographic separation with tandem mass spectrometric detection. Samples were prepared using solid phase extraction and separated on a Zorbax SB C18 column with a mobile phase consisting of water, acetonitrile, and triflouroacetic acid. Detection was performed by a TSQ quantum mass spectrometer in the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode using electrospray ionization (ESI). The method has a chromatographic elution time of 3 min and was linear within the range of 100-1000 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-run accuracy and precision, calculated from quality control (QC) samples, was less than 11%.