Standardization of a fluconazole bioassay and correlation of results with those obtained by high-pressure liquid chromatography

An improved bioassay for fluconazole was developed. This assay is sensitive in the clinically relevant range (2 to 40 μg/ml) and analyzes plasma, serum, and cerebrospinal fluid specimens; bioassay results correlate with results obtained by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Bioassay and HPLC analyses of spiked plasma, serum, and cerebrospinal fluid samples (run as unknowns) gave good agreement with expected values. Analysis of specimens from patients gave equivalent results by both HPLC and bioassay. HPLC had a lower within-run coefficient of variation (<2.5% for HPLC versus <11% for bioassay) and a lower between-run coefficient of variation (<5% versus <12% for bioassay) and was more sensitive (lower limit of detection, 0.1 μg/ml [versus 2 μg/ml for bioassay]). The bioassay is, however, sufficiently accurate and sensitive for clinical specimens, and its relative simplicity, low sample volume requirement, and low equipment cost should make it the technique of choice for analysis of routine clinical specimens.