Development and validation of an LC-MS/MS method for the quantitative determination of aripiprazole and its main metabolite, OPC-14857, in human plasma.

An accurate, sensitive, reproducible, and selective liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for determination of aripiprazole and its main metabolite, OPC-14857, in human plasma was developed and validated. Chromatographic separation was achieved isocratically on a C18 reversed-phase column within 7.5 min. The calibration curve, ranging from 0.1 to 100 ng/ml, was fitted to a 1/y2-weighted linear regression model. The assay showed no significant interference. Lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) for both analytes was 0.1 ng/ml using 0.4 ml of plasma. Intra- and inter-assay precision and accuracy values for aripiprazole and OPC-14857 were within regulatory limits.