Quantification of Endogenous Steroids and Hormonal Contraceptives in Human Plasma via Surrogate Calibration and UHPLC-MS/MS.

Abstract

Quantifying endogenous and exogenous steroids at low concentrations in biological matrices remains a major analytical challenge. Immunoassay-based diagnostics are limited by cross-reactivity, particularly at low levels, prompting a shift toward (ultra)high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry ((U)HPLC-MS/MS) for clinical applications. A key limitation for endogenous hormone quantification is the absence of a true blank matrix for external calibration. To address this, we developed a surrogate calibration method employing 1,2-dimethylimidazole-5-sulfonyl chloride (DMIS) derivatization for estrogens, enabling sensitive and selective quantification alongside nonderivatized steroids. Stable isotope-labeled surrogate calibrants and internal standards were used to achieve matrix-matched quantification within a clinically relevant range. Parallelism between analytes and surrogate calibrants was systematically verified in plasma across multiple calibration levels. The method was further optimized through the use of narrow-bore UHPLC columns and refined chromatographic conditions to enhance sensitivity and resolution for a broad analyte panel. Combined with efficient protein precipitation and 96-well plate-based solid-phase extraction, the developed assay achieves pg/mL-level quantification in human plasma with high precision and accuracy. This integrated approach uniquely combines surrogate calibration for endogenous steroids with external calibration for exogenous contraceptives, including sensitive DMIS-based derivatization for estrogens, enabling comprehensive hormonal profiling in a single run. Beyond its analytical scope, the method outlines a structured validation strategy, which is aligned with regulatory principles, and may therefore serve as a practical reference for future LC-MS/MS assays employing surrogate calibration.