Simultaneous determination of flunitrazepam and its metabolites in plasma and urine by HPLC/DAD after solid phase extraction

A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay was developed for the determination of flunitrazepam (FNZ) and its metabolites in urine and plasma. The analytes and the internal standard (triazolam, TRZ) were extracted by Sep-Pak C18 SPE-cartridge and separated utilizing a 5 mu m ChromSpher C8 glass column with a gradient mobile phase containing methanol and 0.125% (v/v) of isopropylamine in water. Diode array detection (DAD) was carried out at a monitoring wavelength of 240 nm and a reference wavelength of 550 nm. Standard curves were linear from their quantitation limits until 200 ng ml(-1) urine or 250 ng ml(-1) plasma for 7-amino-desmethyl-flunitrazepam (ADF), 7-amino-flunitrazepam (AF), 7-acetamino-flunitrazepam (ACF) and until 400 ng ml(-1) urine or 500 ng ml(-1) plasma for FNZ, 1-desmethyl-flunitrazepam (DF), and 3-hydroxyl-flunitrazepam (HF). The intraday and interday coefficients of variation ranged from 2.04 to 9.07% and from 2.64 to 14.10%, respectively in urine and from 5.13 to 8.60% and from 7.27 to 10.46%, respectively in plasma. The developed method is used in forensic toxicology and is also applicable to pharmacokinetic studies in man. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.