AUTOMATED BIOANALYSIS OF DRUGS USING COUPLED COLUMN LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY FOR SAMPLE PRETREATMENT - ASPECTS OF QUALITY ASSURANCE AND COLLABORATIVE AUTOMATED HANDLING OF DATA

In this paper two new examples on the use of coupled column liquid chromatography (CCLC) for automated analysis of drugs in biosamples are given. A fully automated method for determination of cortisol in human plasma was realized by combining automated sample workup of plasma samples on an automated instrument for solid phase extraction on-line with a CCLC system which was used for further sample pretreatment. Coupled columns can also be used as an injection device in liquid chromatography allowing for automated sample pretreatment and interfacing to miniaturized columns. The potential of this approach for enhancement of sensitivity and selectivity is exemplified with the determination of a drug candidate at picomolar concentration. Examples of the performance characteristics of the two applications demonstrate the capability of these approaches for routine analysis. The paper also stresses the need for a quality assurance programme in order to assure the quality of the data generated by a laboratory. A laboratory information management system in which the analytical method forms an integral part is also demonstrated. This system is forming the basis for collaborative automated handling of data generated by e.g. a fully automated method based on CCLC.