Analysis of steroids in bulk pharmaceuticals by liquid chromatography with light-scattering detection.

A detector for liquid chromatography based on light-scattering was evaluated to determine its application to pharmaceutical analysis. It performed adequately as a mass detector in liquid-solid chromatography of steroids, since response factors were equal to within 20%. The detection limit was approximately 0.5 micrograms. In reversed-phase chromatography response factors varied from 0.13 to 1.0 because of partial vaporization of some steroids. Stable baselines were obtained in gradient elution chromatography, but response varied with solvent composition. This detector was useful for determining impurities in bulk pharmaceuticals.