HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHIC ASSAY FOR 2'-DEOXY-3'-THIACYTIDINE IN HUMAN SERUM

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of 2'-deoxy-3'-thiacytidine (3TC), a novel dideoxy-nucleoside analogu e, in human serum is described. 3TC was extracted from serum samples u sing Bond Elut Certify solid-phase extraction cartridges prior to reve rsed-phase chromatography with UV detection. The method has been shown to be valid over the concentration range 10-5000 ng/ml using a 1-ml s ample volume, both before and after heat treatment of the samples at 6 0 degrees C for 3 h. The method has been automated using a Zymark robo t and used in the analysis of serum samples from HIV positive patients .