High pressure liquid chromatographic assay for prednisone in bulk drug substances and tablets

A high pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for the assay of prednisone in bulk drug substances and tablets. The sample was dissolved in water-methanol and an aliquot was analyzed by using HPLC. The average recovery of prednisone added to a prednisone tablet composite was 99.5% with a coefficient of variation of 1.07%. Prednisone was determined in 46 tablets (1-50 mg prednisone/tablet) formulated by 22 manufacturers, using the HPLC method and the USP blue tetrazolium assay. The results show that the HPLC method is more specific and faster than the USP method.