Rapid high performance liquid chromatographic assay of cephalosporins in biological fluids

A simple isocratic HPLC method is described for the rapid analysis of cephalosporins in body fluids. Sample preparation by protein precipitation takes only five minutes; HPLC analysis is completed within two to ten minutes, using one of two simple solvent mixtures eluted on a single C18 reversed phase column. Nine cephalosporins and nine types of body fluid were formally analysed, but the system was also found to be suitable for the assay of benzyl penicillin, ampicillin, cloxacillin, carbenicillin and chloramphenicol. It is likely that this method, with only minor modifications, would be suitable for the analysis of most beta-lactam antibiotics in most clinical specimens. The method is therefore particularly recommended for use in clinical laboratories.