Mass spectrometric determination of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid

Abstract

The invention relates to the detection of DHA and EPA. In a particular aspect, the invention relates to methods for detecting DHA and EPA by mass spectrometry and kits for carrying out such methods.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A kit comprising an internal standard for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), or both and a hydrolyzing agent, wherein each internal standard is isotope-labeled, and the kit is for a quantitation assay of DHA, EPA, or both in a plasma or serum sample by mass spectrometry. 
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein internal standard for DHA, EPA, or both are deuterated. 
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the internal standards are EPA- 2 H 5  and/or DHA- 2 H 5 . 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the internal standard for DHA is present at a concentration of about 150 μmol/L. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the internal standard for EPA is present at a concentration of about 50 μmol/L. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrolyzing agent is an acid. 
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the acid is hydrochloric acid. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more organic solvents for liquid/liquid extraction. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more organic solvents is selected from 10% ethyl acetate and hexane. 
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising an ammonium acetate solution. 
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising an acetonitrile solution. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the internal standards are EPA- 2 H 5  and DHA- 2 H 5 , and the hydrolyzing agent is an acid.