Frydman A, Lafarge J P, Vial F, Rulliere R, Alexandre J M
J Chromatogr. 1978 May 1;145(3):401-11. doi: 10.1016/s0378-4347(00)81369-9.
A method for the determination of mexiletine in human plasma by gas-liquid chromatography with electron-capture detection is described. Plasma samples are extracted at pH 12 with dichloromethane after addition of the internal standard, the 2,4-methyl analogue of mexiletine. A derivative is obtained using heptafluorobutyric anhydride; according to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry it is a monoheptafluorobutyryl compound. The minimum detectable amount of mexiletine is 5 pg. Accurate determinations of human plasma levels were performed after oral or intravenous treatment.