An amino acid analyzer is used to separate seven 2-ammo-2-deoxy-D-hexoses (allosamine, altrosamine, glucosamine, mannosamine, gulosamine, galactosamine, and talosamine). A borate citrate buffer at pH 7.24 is used at 60 °C. Acidic and neutral amino acids, if present, are eluted before any of the hexosamines.