DETERMINATION OF SUCCINYLCHOLINE IN HUMAN PLASMA BY HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH ELECTROCHEMICAL DETECTION

An alternative HPLC method for the quantification of the depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent succinylcholine in human plasma is descri bed. Drug spiked plasma and patient plasma samples were extracted usin g a C-1 solid-phase cartridge. Succinylcholine was separated on a Cyan o column and quantitated using electrochemical detection at a potentia l of 450 mV and 750 mV. Mobile phase consisted of a mixture of phospho ric acid-acetonitrile-methanol (45:35:25) adjusted to an apparent pH o f 5. Standard curves for the quantitation were linear in the range of 250-8000 ng/ml. Between-day and within-day relative standard deviation s were 5.1% and 1.7%, respectively. Mean drug recovery and accuracy wa s 68% and 104%, respectively. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All right s reserved.