Rapid Determination of Estriol of Pregnancy By Spectrodensitometry of Thin Layer Chromatograms

Abstract

A thin layer densitometric procedure for the clinical determination of estriol in pregnancy urine is described. Estriol is extracted from urine, subjected to partition procedures, and an aliquot developed on a silica gel layer with benzene-ethanol (85:15) as solvent. Estriol is detected by dipping the plate in 5% phosphomolybdic acid in ethanol and quantitated by in situ densitometry at 580 nm. Linear calibration curves were obtained for 0.1–1 µg estriol. The lower limit of detection is 0.05 µg.