Determination of salbutamol in human plasma with bimodal high-performance liquid chromatography and a rotated disc amperometric detector.

The sensitivity of electrochemical detection was combined with the selectivity of a bimodal high-performance liquid chromatographic system for the successful determination of salbutamol in human plasma. Following initial sample clean-up using Sep-Pak cartridges, analytes were passed first through a cation-exchange column, and then, after column switching, through a reversed-phase column. An amperometric detector with a rotated disc working electrode was used for detection. The detection limit was 0.5 ng/ml when 1.0 ml of plasma was used. The coefficient of variation was 9.8% at an average concentration of 4.7 ng/ml. The method was adequate for pharmacokinetic studies and for clinical applications.