Determination of methimazole in urine by liquid chromatography.

A liquid chromatography methodology is developed and validated for detection and quantification of methimazole in urine. The approach is based on derivatization with 2-chloro-1-methylquinolinium tetrafluoroborate, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation of so formed methimazole 2-S-quinolinium derivative from other urine matrix components, followed by detection and quantification with the use of ultraviolet-visible detector. Neither extraction, nor preconcentration of the sample are necessary. The methimazole standards added to normal urine before derivatization step show that the response of the detector, set at 345nm, is linear within the concentration range studied, that is, from 0.25 to 50mg/l urine. The relative standard deviation values for precision and recovery within the calibration range were from 1.8 to 5.0% and from 95.7 to 103.3%, respectively. Lower limits of detection and quantitation were 0.15 and 0.25mg/l urine, respectively.