Automatic, High-Resolution Analysis of Urine for Its Ultraviolet-Absorbing Constituents.

Abstract

An existing nucleotide analyzer is being modified and further developed for use as an automated, high-resolution, analyzer for the ultraviolet-absorbing constituents of human urine. A heated, high-pressure, anion exchange column using Dowex 1-X8 resin is the separation system and a recording ultraviolet spectrophotometer operating alternately at 2 to 4 wavelengths is the detector. Ion exchange resin in the size range of 5 to 10 microns in diameter is used for high resolution and the system operates at pressures up to 4000 psi. The urine chromatogram, which is the absorbance of the column effluent as a function of time, is developed by eluting a 0.5 to 2 ml urine sample through the anion exchange column with an acetate buffer that varies in concentration from 0.015 to 6M. Over 100 chromatographic peaks can be resolved from a urine sample and 12 of these have been tenta-tively identified. Significant differences have been noted between the chromatograms of normal samples and those from subjects with acute symphocytic leukemia and schizophrenia.