Study of different off-line sample processing procedures and the measurement of antibiotic and antiviral levels in human serum by high-performance liquid chromatography.

We attempted to devise a preparation method for clinical samples that could be used for all antibiotics and antivirals. We studied thirteen antibiotics, including five penicillins, four cephalosporins, metronidazole, ofloxacin, and sulfamethoxazole and four protease inhibitors including indinavir, retonavir, nelfinavir, and sequinavir. We compared four sample preparation techniques including solvent precipitation, filtration and resin column. We employ HPLC methods based on a minimal number of columns and mobile phases. We were unable to find one sample preparation method that could be used for all antibiotics and antivirals. But, we did develop an algorithm for determining optimal processing procedures for all drugs.