Validation of liquid/liquid extraction method coupled with HPLC-UV for measurement of ribavirin plasma levels in HCV-positive patients

Measurement of ribavirin plasma levels in HCV-positive patients have been shown to be useful in order to optimise individual ribavirin exposure. Efficacy and toxicity of this drug are shown to be concentration-dependant. A simple HPLC-UV method was developed and validated, which has an easy liquid/liquid extraction, sensitive limit of detection, without any interference peaks, reproducible and linear over the range of clinical relevant concentrations. The assay warrants further evaluation as a tool for ribavirin therapeutic drug monitoring in HCV-positive patients.