Assay of Midazolam in Human Plasma by Gas-Liquid Chromatography with Nitrogen-Phosphorus Detection

A sensitive and specific method is described for the determination of midazolam in human plasma. The drug was extracted from 1 mL of carbonate buffered plasma (pH 9.6) with 8 mL of diethyl ether. Famprofazone was used as internal standard. The organic phase was evaporated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in methanol for the direct analysis by gas chromatograph-nitrogen phosphorus detector system. In the concentration range of 1-5000 ng/mL, the calibration curve was linear. The coefficients of variation from the precision test were <6% at the range of the concentration of 0.10-2.00 μg/mL and the detection limit for midazolam in 1 mL of plasma was o.5 ng. This assay is more sensitive, selective, simple and rapid than earlier methods. Plasma midazolam concentrations were determined by this method after administration of midazolam.