RAPID-DETERMINATION OF CHLOROPROCAINE AND ITS MAJOR METABOLITE, 2-CHLOROAMINOBENZOIC ACID, IN PLASMA BY HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

A sensitive and specific high-performance liquid chromatographic metho d for determination of the 2-chloroprocaine, local anesthetic of ester type, and its major metabolite 2-chloroaminobenzoic acid, has been de veloped and validated. A single-step extraction procedure is employed followed by high-performance liquid chromatographic separation using r eversed-phase column and analysis using variable length UV detection. Lidocaine was used as internal standard for 2-chloroprocaine measureme nt and p-aminobenzoic acid was used as internal standard for 2-chloroa minobenzoic acid analysis. The analysis of spiked plasma demonstrated good accuracy and precision of the method with limit of detection 0.1 mu g/ml for 2-chloroprocaine and 0.5 mu g/ml for 2-chloroaminobenzoic acid. The method has been used for pharmacokinetic studies in laborato ry animals.