Determination of atropine in biological specimens by high-performance liquid chromatography

A sensitive and selective method for the determination of atropine in biological specimens has been developed. Samples alkalinized with sodium hydroxide were extracted with dichloromethane, and the organic phase was evaporated in a water-bath at 50 degrees C for ca. 10 min. The residue was dissolved in the mobile phase and injected into a reversed-phase column (TSK gel ODS-120A). The retention time for atropine could be varied by changing either the acetonitrile-water ratio in the mobile phase or the pH of the mobile phase. Acetonitrile-water (2:8, v/v) containing 6 mM phosphoric acid was used as mobile phase. Samples of 200 microliters or less were injected into the chromatography and measured at 215 nm. The recoveries of atropine added to drug-free specimens were satisfactory with coefficients of variation of 4% or less. Ninety-two compounds tested did not interfere with the assay of atropine. The method has been applied for monitoring atropine concentrations in cases of organophosphate and drug poisoning.