BACKGROUND Target-controlled infusion (TCI) systems can control the concentration in the plasma or at the site of drug effect. A TCI system that targets the effect site should be able to accurately predict the time course of drug effect. The authors tested this by comparing the performance of three control algorithms: plasmacontrol TCI versus two algorithms for effect-site control TCI. METHODS One-hundred twenty healthy women patients received propofol via TCI for 12-min at a target concentration of 5.4 microg/ml. In all three groups, the plasma concentrations were computed using pharmacokinetics previously reported. In group I, the TCI device controlled the plasma concentration. In groups II and III, the TCI device controlled the effect-site concentration. In group II, the effect site was computed using a half-life for plasma effect-site equilibration (t1/2k(eo)) of 3.5 min. In group III, plasma effect-site equilibration rate constant (k(eo)) was computed to yield a time to peak effect of 1.6 min after bolus injection, yielding a t1/2keo of 34 s. the time course of propofol was measured using the bispectral index. Blood pressure, ventilation, and time of loss of consciousness were measured. RESULTS The time course of propofol drug effect, as measured by the bispectral index, was best predicted in group III. Targeting the effect-site concentration shortened the time to loss of consciousness compared with the targeting plasma concentration without causing hypotension. The incidence of apnea was less in group III than in group II. CONCLUSIONS Effect compartment-controlled TCI can be safely applied in clinical practice. A biophase model combining the Marsh kinetics and a time to peak effect of 1.6 min accurately predicted the time course of propofol drug effect.