Determination of thimerosal in biological products by liquid chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric detection

Abstract

A liquid chromatography system has been interfaced to an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer in order to analyse injectable biological products for thimerosal. Thimerosal is a mercury containing antimicrobial agent used as a preservative in these materials. Sample types analysed ranged from vaccines and toxoids (influenza virus vaccine and tetanus toxoid) to diluents, containing only the preservative in a saline solution. Samples were analysed quantitatively for thimerosal content and qualitatively for the presence of decomposition products detectable by this method, such as methylmercury chloride, dimethylmercury and mercury(II) chloride. Flow injection was used to confirm that all mercury species in the samples were determined by liquid chromatography.