Thin-layer differential pulse voltammetric determination of chlorpromazine in biological fluids

Abstract

The combination of a thin-layer electrochemical cell with differential pulse voltammetry can be used to determine chlorpromazine in plasma and urine. The thin-layer cell (23 μl capacity) has a wax-impregnated graphite electrode. Direct determination of chlorpromazine in urine gave a linear calibration curve for the range 4.8 × 10 -3–2.4 × 10 -4 M with 97% recovery. No interference from glutethimide, dextropropoxyphene, meprobamate, diazepam, and methaqualone-HCl was detected. Direct measurement of chlorpromazine in plasma gave a linear calibration curve for the range 2.4 × 10 -5–4.8 × 10 -4 M with 89% recovery. The procedure for plasma and urine requires only 2 min per determination. Detection levels are below that required for monitoring therapeutic levels of chlorpromazine in urine.