Semi-quantitative analysis of cefaclor in human serum by capillary high performance liquid chromatography/fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

Capillary high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was combined with frit fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry (MS) and a detailed procedure has been established for on-line analysis of cefaclor in human serum. The capillary column (0.3 mm i.d.) enabled the introduction of entire effluent to the frit interface for FAB-MS; and a special column switching device for injection and concentration enabled the injection of as large as a 500-μl volume sample. These conditions gave much higher sensitivity than that of previous HPLC/MS system. Thus, low levels of cefaclor could be successfully identified in sera by its mass spectral measurements 2 h after its single oral administration of a 250-mg capsule in two subjects.