A simple, accurate, precise and rapid HPLC method with UV detection has been validated in order to determine the in vitro transdermal absorption of sumatriptan succinate. The HPLC method is a modification of that described by Nozal et al. [M.J. Nozal, J.L. Bernal, L. Toribio, M.T. Martin, F.J. Diez, J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal. 30 (2002) 285-291]. Separation was carried out on a 250 mm Kromasil C18 column at room temperature. The detector response, at 282.7 nm, was found to be linear in a concentration range between 0.145 and 145 mu M. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.019 mu M and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.145 mu M. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.