GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF ZOPICLONE IN PLASMA AFTER SOLID-PHASE EXTRACTION

A gas chromatographic technique for determining zopiclone based on a s olid-phase extraction procedure with C18 cartridge for sample clean-up is presented. Quantification can be achieved with 1 ml of plasma. The method uses prazepam as internal standard. Zopiclone is separated on a 5% phenyl methyl silicone analytical column and detected with an ele ctron-capture detector, which consequently allows a limit of quantitat ion of 2 mug/l. It is thus simple, rapid, sensitive and linear over th e range 5-2000 mug/l.