Sample Preparation for the Analysis of Catecholamines and their Metabolites in Human Urine

Abstract

A specific, sensitive, qualitative and quantitative extraction procedure followed by an high pressure liquid chromatography equipped with electrochemical detector assay of catecholamines (CATs) and their metabolites from human urine has been developed. Using an unique multiple interaction bonded silica gel disposable solid phase extraction (SPE) column, various analytes were selectively isolated from the urine components. After following three different extraction procedures, the presence of free CATs (epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine) and their basic (normetanephrine, metanephrine, and 3-methoxydopamine) and acidic (vanillylmandelic acid, homovanillic acid and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid) metabolites was confirmed and quantitated by electrochemical detector.