Use of alumina columns to prepare plasma samples for liquid-chromatographic determination of catecholamines.

Abstract

Abstract We describe an improved method of sample preparation for liquid chromatographic determination of plasma catecholamines. The catecholamines are extracted from plasma by using small, cheaply-made columns of alumina, with or without prior clean-up on commercially available ion-exchange columns. Advantages of this technique over the conventional batch-extraction method of using alumina are speed, convenience, and improved sample clean-up. In particular, the one-stage method we describe allows results to be reported within 20 min of receiving the sample.