Rapid determination of acetone in human plasma by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and solid-phase microextraction with on-fiber derivatization

Acetone is an important volatile disease marker. Due to its nature of activity and volatility, it is a difficult task to measure the concentration of acetone in biological samples with accuracy. In this paper, we developed a novel method for determination of trace amount acetone in human plasma by solid-phase microextraction technique with on-fiber derivatization. In this method, the poly(dimethylsiloxane)/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) fiber was used and O-2,3,4,5,6-(pentafluorobenzyl) hydroxylamine hydrochloride (PFBHA) was first loaded on the fiber. Acetone in plasma sample was agitated into headspace and extracted by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber and subsequently derivatized with PFBHA on the fiber. Acetone oxime was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Quantitative analysis of acetone in plasma was carried out by using external standard method. The SPME conditions (extraction temperature and time) and the method validation were studied. The present method was tested by determination of acetone in diabetes plasma and normal plasma. Acetone concentration in diabetes plasma was found to be higher than 1.8 mM, while in normal plasma was lower than 0.017 mM. The results show that the present method is a potential tool for diagnosis of diabetes.