A rapid, sensitive and validated method for the determination of ondansetron in human plasma by reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography.

A simple and sensitive method for the determination of ondansetron (CAS 116002-70-1) in human plasma was developed using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The procedure involves extraction of human plasma with tertiary butyl methyl ether containing 2 mol/l sodium hydroxide, followed by reversed-phase HPLC using a LiChrospher 100 RP-18e 5 microm column and UV detection at 305 nm. The retention times of ondansetron and internal standard (propranolol hydrochloride, CAS 318-98-9) were 9.38 and 13.40 min, respectively. The calibration curves were linear over the range of 10 ng/ml (lower limit of quantitation, LOQ) and 380 ng/ml for ondansetron. The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation for all the criteria of validation were less than 15% over the linearity range. Ondansetron was stable upon storage in human plasma. The sensitivity and precision of the method were within the accepted limits (< 15 %) throughout the validation period. The present method is useful for determination of plasma concentrations of ondansetron during human pharmacokinetic studies.