Determination of lidocaine in human serum by capillary gas chromatography with surface ionization detection

A novel analytical method has been developed for the determination of lidocaine (2-(diethylamino)-N-(2,6-dimethyl)phenylacetamide) in human serum. After solvent extraction from serum the extract was analyzed by gas chromatography employing a van den Berg type solventless injector, a new sensitive and selective detector, the surface ionization detector, and a bonded phase flexible fused silica capillary column. The detection limit was ca. 30–50 ng/ml.