Determination of chloramphenicol in serum and cerebrospinal fluid with high-pressure liquid chromatography

Abstract
A procedure for quantitation of chloramphenicol in serum and cerebrospinal fluid was developed using high-pressure liquid chromatography. The drug was extracted from biological samples with methanol and separated by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. Detection and subsequent quantitation were performed by on-line ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The assay is rapid (less than 30 mm), specific and precise. Concentrations of 0.5 μg chloramphenicol per ml could be accurately measured. Comparison with a microbiological assay showed good correlation.