Determination of ribavirin in serum using highly selective solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography

A rapid assay for determination of ribavirin in serum using solid-phase ext raction (SPE), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and UV-detect ion was developed. The SPE uses phenylboronic acid columns with an approxim ately 100% recovery for ribavirin. The concentration-peak area relation was linear (r > 0.995), from 1 to 64 mu M in 100 mu L serum. The limit of dete ction was 0.1 mu M. The intraassay CV was 3.2% at treatment levels (9.7 mu M) and 11.5% at 0.4 mu M The method is used to monitor patients undergoing ribavirin treatment for hepatitis C (HCV). Samples from HCV-infected patien ts with and without renal dysfunction have been analyzed without interferen ce of endogenous compounds. It is concluded that the method is useful for r outine therapeutic drug monitoring.