A method for the determination of a 2-pyridinone-based specific HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor in human plasma is described. Plasma samples are extracted using phenyl solid phase extraction columns. The extract is analyzed via HPLC using a column-switching system to remove interferences from late-eluting endogenous components. Detection is based on UV absorbance at 314 nm. The assay was linear in the concentration range of 10-500 ng/ml, when 1-ml aliquots of plasma were extracted. The mean precision of the assay, expressed as the coefficient of variation, was 3.8%. The assay has been validated and utilized to support human pharmacokinetic studies.