Determination of diisopropylfluorophosphate in rat plasma and brain tissue by headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A simple, sensitive and rapid method for the determination of diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) in rat plasma and brain tissue using headspace solid‐phase microextraction (HS‐SPME) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is presented. A 65 µm polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) fiber was selected for sampling. The main parameters affecting the SPME process such as extraction and desorption temperature, extraction and desorption time, salt addition, and fiber preheating time were optimized in each matrix to enhance the extraction efficiency of the method. The lower limits of quantitation for DFP in plasma and brain tissue were 1 ng/mL and 3 ng/g, respectively. The method showed good linearity over the range from 1–100 ng/mL in plasma and 3–300 ng/g in brain tissue with correlation coefficient (R2) values higher than 0.995. The precision and accuracy for intra‐day and inter‐day were less than 10%. The relative recoveries in plasma and brain for DFP were greater than 50%. Stability tests including autosampler and freeze and thaw were also investigated. This validated method was successfully applied to study the neurobehavioral effects of low‐level organophosphate exposures. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.