Determination of antibiotic drug concentrations in circulating human blood by means of solid phase micro-extraction.

Background: Promising results in animals have shown the diagnostic potential of polypyrrole coated SPME fibres introduced directly into the blood stream. This study was intended to extend this technique to a clinically relevant antibiotic drug under close to physiological conditions in human blood.

Methods: An artificial vein system was built up from heart and lung machine components.