A rapid and simple method for determining catecholamines in human plasma and cerebrospinal fluid using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

A procedure for assaying free norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is described. The method involves adsorption of the catechols onto alumina, desorption, and injection into a reverse-phase ion-pairing liquid chromatography system equipped with a coulometric detector. Optimization of chromatographic conditions with regard to detector performance and keeping to procedures and precautions described make the method applicable both to neurochemical research and routine clinical analysis. A single chromatographic run, providing adequate resolution of each component, could be completed in about 8 min. The limit of quantitative detection of the method was found to be approximately 0.003 micrograms/l for individual catecholamines.