[Solid-phase extraction and RP-HPLC screening procedure for diuretics, probenecid, caffeine and pemoline in urine]

A solid-phase extraction and reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic method (RP-HPLC) was developed for the rapid determination of 13 diuretics (belonging to five different pharmacological groups), probenecid, caffeine and pemoline in urine. Two ml urine sample was first adsorbed on a XAD-2 column, then eluted with ether-ethyl acetate (1:1). The eluate was evaporated to dryness and reconstituted in methanol. The methanolic solution was injected into a HP LiChrosorb RP-18 column, using phosphate buffer (pH 3) and acetonitrile as the mobile phase and monitored at 216 nm, 230 nm, and 275 nm on a diode array ultraviolet detector. The extraction recoveries of 16 drugs were above 75%. The limits of detection ranged from 0.3-3.0 micrograms/ml of urine. All drugs were separately administered to healthy volunteers, positive urine samples were collected, and urinary excretion-time curves of some drugs were reported.