Liquid chromatographic and flow injection analysis of tetracycline using sensitized europium (III) luminescence detection.

Europium (III) can be used as a luminescent chromophore for detection in the liquid chromatographic and flow injection analysis of tetracycline. Detection is dependent upon an intramolecular energy transfer from the tetracycline to Eu (III). In liquid chromatography, the Eu (III) is added post-column as a complex with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. The post-column phase also serves to adjust the pH for optimum sensitivity. The method is highly selective for tetracycline since few compounds are capable of transferring energy to Eu (III). Fluorescent impurities that would otherwise interfere in flow injection analysis can be eliminated through the use of a delay time between the source pulse and the start of data acquisition. The detection limits for tetracycline using sensitized Eu (III) luminescence are better than those obtained using ultraviolet detection. The method is applied to the analysis of tetracycline in urine, blood serum, and gingival crevice fluid.