Simultaneous determination of ofloxacin, norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin in human hair by high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection

J Chromatogr B Biomed Appl. 1994 Mar 4;653(2):187-93. doi: 10.1016/0378-4347(93)e0440-2.

Abstract

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of ofloxacin, norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin in human hair is described. A reversed-phase C18 column and a fluorescence detector with switching fluorescence wavelengths were used together with solid-phase extraction of the drugs from hair dissolved in 1 M sodium hydroxide. Reproducibility and linearity studies yielded coefficients of variation of 0.2-2.2, 1.4-3.1 and 1.5-3.4%, and correlation coefficients of 1.000, 0.999 and 0.999 within the concentration range 0.3-100 ng/ml for ofloxacin, norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin, respectively. For validation, hair samples were obtained from six subjects who had been taking one or two of the three fluoroquinolones. Assuming a hair growth-rate of 1 cm per month fluoroquinolones could be detected in the hair section(s) that had grown approximately between the dates of drug administration and hair sampling.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods*
  • Ciprofloxacin / analysis*
  • Hair / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Norfloxacin / analysis*
  • Ofloxacin / analysis*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence
  • Spectrum Analysis

Substances

  • Ciprofloxacin
  • Ofloxacin
  • Norfloxacin