OBJECTIVETo establish a method for determining propofol in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

METHODSReverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection was applied to quantitative analysis. CSF samples were centrifuged (12,500 r/min for 3 min) and filtered (the diameter of the filter is 0.45 microm). Twenty mul of supernatant was directly injected and separated by Supelco Discovery C(18)column. The mobile phase was composed of methanol-water (80:20); the flow rate was 1 ml/min, and the column temperature was 30 degree. The fluorescence detective waves were: lambda ex=276 nm and lambda em=310 nm.

RESULTSThe linear range of propofol in CSF was 5-200 ng/ml (r=0.9994). The recovery rates for high, intermediate and low concentrations were 101.2%, 99.8%, 98.8%, respectively. The RSD of inter-day assay was 1.55%, 1.73%, 6.01% and it of intra-day assay was 1.69%, 2.37%, 8.60%. The limit of detection proved to be 2 ng/ml.

CONCLUSIONThe method is rapid, simple, accurate and sensitive for measurement of propofol concentration in CSF.