A new method for the determination of dipyridamole in serum for concen
trations between 10 and 100 ng ml(-1) by means of matrix isopotential
synchronous fluorescence spectrometry and derivative techniques is pro
posed. This new method is useful for the determination of compounds in
samples with unknown background fluorescence, such as dipyridamole in
serum, without the need for tedious preseparation. The determination
was performed in an ethanol/water medium (15% v/v) at a pH value of 10
.0, provided by adding an ammonium chloride/ammonia buffer solution. S
ince dipyridamole is a stimulant which is very much used like a doping
substance in sport, the method was successfully applied to the determ
ination of dipyridamole in serum. Better sensitivity and repeatability
are achieved for these matrices than with the fluorometric ones descr
ibed in the literature. An exhaustive statistical analysis has been de
veloped for all calibration graphs. This treatment includes robust reg
ression such as least median of squares which also detects outliers an
d leverage points. The overall least-squares regression has been appli
ed to find the more exact straight line which fits the experimental da
ta. The error propagation has been considered to calculate the detecti
on limit, determination limit, and the repeatability of the method. (C
) 1997 Academic Press.