ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To develop a high-performance liquid chromatographic method for determination of ketamine and norketamine in blood and urine.@*METHODS@#The compounds were extracted from blood or urine by liquid-liquid extraction using toluene after blood or urine was adjusted pH to 14. The extracts were analyzed by HPLC.@*RESULTS@#Linear limits of ketamine and norketamine determination in blood ranged from 0.05 microg/mL to 10 microg/mL (R2 > 0.9993) and in urine ranged from 0.01 microg/mL to 200 microg/mL (R2 > 0.9995). Limits of detection (LODs) for ketamine and norketamine were 0.006 microg/mL and 0.003 microg/mL (S/N > or = 3), respectively. The mean extraction recovery was over 82.4% and its coefficients of variation were less than 10.0% for ketamine and norketamine. Concentration-time curves and urinary drug velocity curves of ketamine norketamine were obtained by determinations of them in blood and urine in rat using the developed method.@*CONCLUSION@#The method is sensitive, simple, rapid and suitable for determination of ketamine and norketamine in blood and urine for toxicological and clinical pharmaceutical analysis.