An analytical method based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet detection (269 nm) was developed for the determination of pioglitazone in human plasma. Rosiglitazone was used as an internal standard. Chromatographic separation was achieved with a reversed-phase Apollo C18 column and a mobile phase of methanol-acetonitrile-mixed phosphate buffer (pH 2.6; 10mM) (40:12:48, v/v/v) with a flow rate of 1.2 ml/min. The calibration curve was linear over the range of 50-2000 ng/ml (r(2)>0.9987) and the lower limit of quantification was 50 ng/ml. The method was validated with excellent sensitivity, accuracy, precision, recovery and stability. The assay has been applied successfully to a pharmacokinetic study with human volunteers.