Factors influencing the microbiological assay of tobramycin

Tobramycin belongs to the aminoglycoside class of antibiotics. Assay procedures were investigated to determine the most suitable methods for the assay of tobramycin in blood, urine, and pharmaceutical preparations. The agar-plate assay was the method of choice for determinations in urine and serum. The turbidimetric assay was selected for the assay of pharmaceutical preparations. An extraction technique is described that minimizes problems encountered in the estimation of tobramycin in urine. Sample diluents, pH, and molarity were important and were variable depending on assay methods. Evidence is presented to show binding of tobramycin to alpha-cellulose susceptibility discs. Iron and sodium ions demonstrated potential inhibition of tobramycin in all assay methods tested.