Objective To determine the in vitro recovery rate and influencing factors of cefradine microdialysis. Methods Two different methods (loss method, gain method) of microdialysis concentration and LC-MS/MS were used to determine the in vitro recovery rate of cefradine. The effect of flow rate and concentration of the perfusate on the recovery rate were investigated. To explore the feasibility of microdialysis technology for pharmacokinetic studies in cefradine. Results The LC-MS/MS analysis method was linear in the required range and the method was sensitive and reliable. There was no significant difference in the recovery rate measured by gain or loss method. Under the same conditions, the in vitro recovery of the probe decreased with increasing flow rate, independent of the drug concentration around the probe. Conclusion Microdialysis technique could be used to study the pharmacokinetics of cefradine, and loss method could be used to determine the in vivo recovery rate and pharmacokinetics of cefradine on microdialysis.