HPLC determination of fentanyl in human plasma

OBJECTIVE To determination the concentration of fentanyl in human plasma by HPLC with ultraviolet detection.METHODS External standard method was used. The evaluation of fentanyl was carried out by Kromasil-C 18( 4.6 mmx250 mm,5 μm)column with a mobile phase of water containing 0.02 mol·L -1 NaH 2PO 4-acetonitril(65∶35),and detection wavelength was 220 nm. Flow rate was 1 mL·min -1.RESULTS Human plasma calibration curve for fentanyl was linear in the range of 6-300 μg·L -1(r= 0.999 6).The detection limit of fentanyl was 5 μg·L -1.The method recovery was ( 92.6± 1.5)%,the extraction recovery was ( 84.9± 1.4)%.The within-day RSD was 1.8%,the between-day RSD was 2.6%.CONCLUSION This method is accurate, sensitive,specific and convenient.The method could be used in the determination of fentanyl in human plasma and useful for pharmacokinetic study of fentanyl in clinics.