Standard Operating Procedure for Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) Method in BA/BE Bioanalytical Studies
| Department | BA-BE Studies |
|---|---|
| SOP No. | SOP/BA-BE/157/2025 |
| Supersedes | SOP/BA-BE/157/2022 |
| Page No. | Page 1 of 11 |
| Issue Date | 17/04/2025 |
| Effective Date | 20/04/2025 |
| Review Date | 17/04/2026 |
1. Purpose
To outline the procedure for performing Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) for the isolation and concentration of analytes from biological matrices such as plasma or serum during BA/BE studies.
2. Scope
This SOP is applicable to all bioanalytical personnel performing SPE in regulated BA/BE studies where the method of extraction has been validated and approved for use.
3. Responsibilities
- Bioanalytical Analyst:
4. Accountability
The Head of Bioanalytical Laboratory is accountable for ensuring SPE procedures are followed, validated, and meet regulatory expectations for accuracy and reproducibility.
5. Procedure
5.1 Equipment and Materials
- Vacuum manifold
- SPE cartridges (type specified in validated method)
- Collection tubes, centrifuge tubes
- Solvents: Methanol, water, buffer, elution solvent
- Pipettes and vortex mixer
- Nitrogen evaporator (if required)
5.2 Sample Preparation
- Thaw and vortex plasma samples as per SOP/BA-BE/155/2025.
- Label all SPE cartridges and collection tubes clearly with Sample ID.
- Add internal standard (IS) to each plasma sample and vortex for 15 seconds.
- If required, dilute samples with buffer before SPE loading step.
5.3 Conditioning of SPE Cartridge
- Place cartridge in SPE manifold.
- Condition the cartridge by passing:
- 1 mL methanol
- 1 mL water
- Ensure complete wetting of sorbent material for efficient binding.
5.4 Sample Loading
- Transfer plasma sample onto conditioned SPE cartridge.
- Allow it to pass through slowly under gravity or gentle vacuum (not exceeding 5–10 psi).
- Discard the filtrate unless method specifies collection of flow-through.
5.5 Washing Step
- Wash the cartridge with 1 mL of wash solution (e.g., water or aqueous buffer) to remove impurities.
- Follow with a second wash of organic solvent if specified (e.g., 5% methanol).
- Allow wash to drain completely before elution.
5.6 Elution of Analyte
- Elute the retained analyte by adding 1 mL of elution solvent (e.g., methanol or acetonitrile).
- Collect the eluate into pre-labeled collection tubes.
- If specified, repeat elution step to improve recovery.
5.7 Post-Elution Processing
- Evaporate eluates to dryness under nitrogen at 35–40°C.
- Reconstitute the residue with appropriate mobile phase (e.g., 200 µL).
- Transfer to autosampler vials and cap securely.
5.8 Precautions
- Do not allow SPE cartridges to run dry between steps.
- Use fresh pipette tips and tubes for each sample to avoid cross-contamination.
- Document each step and ensure traceability using Annexure-1: SPE Extraction Log.
6. Abbreviations
- BA/BE: Bioavailability/Bioequivalence
- SPE: Solid Phase Extraction
- IS: Internal Standard
- LC-MS/MS: Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry
7. Documents
- SPE Extraction Log – Annexure-1
- SPE Cartridge Batch Record – Annexure-2
- Solvent Preparation Log – Annexure-3
8. References
- ICH M10: Bioanalytical Method Validation
- US FDA and EMA Bioanalytical Method Validation Guidelines
- Internal validated method documentation
9. SOP Version
Version: 2.0
10. Approval Section
| Prepared By | Checked By | Approved By | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signature | |||
| Date | |||
| Name | |||
| Designation | |||
| Department |
11. Annexures
Annexure-1: SPE Extraction Log
| Date | Sample ID | IS Added | Wash Volume | Elution Volume | Analyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17/04/2025 | PLS-1005 | Yes | 2 mL | 1 mL | Rajesh Kumar |
Annexure-2: SPE Cartridge Batch Record
| Cartridge Type | Lot No. | Expiry | Conditioning Verified | Checked By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oasis HLB | HLB1023 | 12/2025 | Yes | Sunita Reddy |
Annexure-3: Solvent Preparation Log
| Solvent | Composition | Preparation Date | Prepared By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elution Solvent | 100% Methanol | 16/04/2025 | Vinay Pawar |
Revision History:
| Revision Date | Revision No. | Details | Reason | Approved By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/01/2022 | 1.0 | Initial Release | New SOP | QA Head |
| 17/04/2025 | 2.0 | Added cartridge log and elution volume checks | Regulatory Alignment | QA Head |