Abstract: | Abstract A reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been established for the separation and quantitative determination of the alkaloid codeine in pharmaceutical preparations and in body fluids. The minimum detectable concentrations for body fluids were 5ppb and 7ppb respectively for urine and whole blood with an analysis time of under 5 min. A RP-8 Spheri-5 guard column and a RP-8 Lichrosorb-10 column were used and codeine was detected at its absorption maximum wavelength of 212 nm using an eluting system of methanol: 0.5% w/v aqueous ammonium acetate (70:30) at a pH of about 7.0. |