On-line Automated Sample Preparation-Capillary Gas Chromatography for the Analysis of Plasma Samples.

An automated sample preparation module, (the automated sample preparation with extraction columns, ASPEC), was interfaced with a capillary gas chromatograph (GC) by means of an on-column interface. The system was optimised for the determination of the antidepressant trazodone in plasma. The clean-up of untreated plasma was carried out with disposable C18 cartridges, using several washing steps. The analyte was desorbed with methanol, the extract was diluted on-line with buffer and preconcentrated on a PLRP-S trapping column. The trapping column was dried by purging with nitrogen gas. Desorption (phase switching) of the trapping column was carried out with ethyl acetate which was introduced into a retention gap using partially concurrent solvent evaporation conditions. Trazodone was determined by GC with flame ionisation detection (FID). With a 1 ml sample, this resulted in a detection limit for trazodone in plasma of 3 ng/ml. The system showed good linearity and repeatability in the range 0.01-1 μg/ml, thus covering the range of pharmacokinetic/dynamic-to-therapeutic concentrations of trazodone in plasma. Preliminary results for benzodiazepines are promising. They indicate that the use of a selective detector such as the nitrogen/phosphorus detector, is to be recommended. © 1995 Friedr. Vieweg & Sohn Verlagsgesellschaft mbH.