HPLC separations of meropenem and selected pharmaceuticals using a polar endcapped octadecylsilane narrow bore column

Stability indicating high performance liquid chromatography methods have been developed for the assay of meropenem in combination with either dopamine (A), aminophylline (B), metoclopramide (C) or ranitidine (D) in intravenous fluid mixtures. Separations B, C and D were performed on a polar endcapped ODS column (150 x 2 mm) with aqueous, pH 3.0 - acetonitrile (89:11, 88:12, and 92:8) eluent and detection at 270, 290, 317 nm respectively. Meropenem was linear over the concentration ranges 126.88-507.50, 131.25-525, and 131.25-525 gmg mL(-1). Aminophylline, metoclopramide and ranitidine were linear over the concentration ranges 13-52, 37.5-150, and 25-100 mu g mL(-1). Separation A was performed on a conventional ODS column (150 x 2.1 mm) with aqueous, pH 3.0 - acetonitrile (85:15) eluent and detection at 280 nm. Meropenem and dopamine were linear in the 61.25-245 and 10-40 mu g mL(-1) ranges, respectively. Accuracy and precision for all methods were 0.20-3.30% and 0.10-1.58 %, respectively. Accelerated stability studies have been carried out on each drug by exposure to acid, base, H2O2, and heat for different time periods.