HPLC Method for the Determination of Chloroquine and its Main Metabolite in Biological Samples

Abstract An ion-pair reversed phase HPLC-method for the determination of chloroquine and desethylchloroquine in plasma, blood and filter-paper-absorbed blood spots is described. Using 75 μl samples, concentrations ranging from 2 to 1000 ng/ml can be measured. Intraday precision as well as interday precision are lower than 6 % (RSD). The filter-paper method could be used for the determination of chloroquine and desethylchloroquine in samples originating from areas with a lack of laboratory equipment. The procedure is sensitive enough to be used in monitoring of drug levels as well as for pharmacokinetic studies.