Abstract: | Recent developments in the preparation of capillary columns by persilanization of the glass surfaces have resulted in highly inactive, heat-stable columns. With this type of column certain steroid hormone classes can be analyzed without derivatization; these include the 17-keto steroids, 11-oxo compounds, estrogens, and progesterone metabolites. It has been found that good quantitative analysis calls for non-vaporizing, on-column injection, as normal vaporizing injection results in breakdown of thermolabile compounds such as estriol and 17-OH progesterone metabolites. The gas chromatographic method described was used to obtain urinary steroid profiles. |