Determination of ceftazidime in plasma by RP-HPLC and ultraviolet detection

A simple high-performance liquid chromatography method for the determination of ceftazidime in plasma has been developed. Using an ultrafiltration technique samples were separated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on a Symmetry C-18 4.6 x 250 mm column (5.0 mu m) and ultraviolet absorbance was measured at 260 nm. The mobile phase was a mixture of 10 mm potassium phosphate monobasic pH 2.5 with phosphoric acid and acetonitrile (90:10). The standard curve ranged from 0.1 to 100 mu g/ml. Intra- and inter-assay variability for ceftazidime was <12%, and the average recovery was 89%. The lower limit of quantification was 0.1 mu g/ml. This method has been used successfully to analyze frog plasma samples at this institution and it could be applied to other small volume samples in a clinical or research setting.

Automated summary

A simple high-performance liquid chromatography method for the determination of ceftazidime in plasma has been successfully developed. The method showed good precision and accuracy, with intra- and inter-assay variability for ceftazidime <12% and average recovery of 89%. This method could be applied to analyze small volume samples in clinical or research settings.