The influence of storage time on ponazuril concentrations in feline plasma

Background. The pharmacokinetics of ponazuril have been determined in several species; however, there is very little information on the stability of the drug after storage for long periods of time. This study was undertaken to determine the stability of ponazuril in plasma samples stored at -80 degrees C, which is the temperature most commonly used in the author's laboratory. Method. Spiked plasma samples (0.3, 7.5, and 15 mu g/mL) were stored at -80 degrees C for three months. Analysis occurred on the first day and then once a week for the following twelve weeks. The drug was extracted using a chloroform extraction and separated by high performance liquid chromatography using ultraviolet detection. Results. There was no loss of drug for any concentration for the first four weeks of storage. There was an average loss of less than 5% from day 35 through day 70 and an average loss of 6% on day 77 and 84. The data suggest that ponazuril is stable for 4 weeks when stored at -80 degrees C and undergoes minimal loss in the remaining 8 weeks.