Direct determination of avermectins in plasma at nanogram levels by high-performance liquid chromatography

22,23-Dihydroavermectin B1a (I) is determined in animal plasma over the concentration range 5-60 ng/ml by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV photometric detection. Prior to HPLC the sample is isolated by gravity-fed adsorption column chromatography on Florisil. The delta 2 isomer of I (designated as compound III) is used as an internal standard, and the conversion of I to this isomer by base hydrolysis is described. An accuracy of 2 ng/ml (mean deviation) and a precision in the range of 1-3 ng/ml (standard deviation) were observed for the method. The limit of detection is 2 ng/ml based on the background observed for normal cattle plasma. The method is applicable to bioavailability studies of I at usual therapeutic concentrations.