Improved liquid-chromatographic determination of haloperidol in plasma.

This method for determination of haloperidol in plasma is based on "high-performance" isocratic liquid chromatography with the use of a C8 bonded reversed-phase column at room temperature. Haloperidol and the internal standard (chloro-substituted analog) are extracted from alkalinized plasma into isoamyl alcohol/heptane (1.5/98.5 by vol) and back-extracted into dilute H2SO4. The aqueous phase is directly injected onto the column. The mobile phase is a 30/45/25 (by vol) mixture of phosphate buffer (16.5 mmol/L, pH 7.0), acetonitrile, and methanol. Unlike other liquid-chromatographic procedures for haloperidol, commonly used psychotropic drugs do not interfere. Analysis can be completed within an hour. The procedure is extremely sensitive (1.0 microgram/L) and is well reproducible (CV 5.6% for a 2.5 micrograms/L concentration in plasma).