Determination of inorganic sulfate in human saliva and sweat by controlled-flow anion chromatography. Normal values in adult humans.

Following the previous demonstration that low concentrations of inorganic sulfate (SO4) in human serum and cerebrospinal fluid can be accurately determined by controlled-flow anion chromatography, the assay has been extended to the quantitation of free SO4 in saliva and sweat by modification of the established methods of sample collection and preparation. Salivary secretions were ultrafiltered to remove macromolecular polyanions that bind irreversibly to the anion-exchange separator column and reduce resolution. Sweat was collected from 22 fasted adult volunteers using a method which utilizes absorbent filter pads applied to the forearm after secretion had been stimulated by pilocarpine iontophoresis. It was necessary to acid wash the filter pads to reduce sulfate contamination. Saliva ultrafiltrate or sweat was diluted and injected onto a Dionex D-10 Ion Analyzer using the standard anion column system. The mean inorganic SO4 concentration in saliva from seventeen adult fasting volunteers was 72 +/- 4 mumol/l (+/- S.E.); the mean SO4 concentration in sweat was 83 +/- 3 mumol/l. Both are significantly less than in matching serum, suggesting that SO4 is actively removed during formation of these glandular secretions. The ion chromatographic assay is shown to be capable of measuring SO4 in biological fluids at concentrations that are otherwise undetectable by conventional assay techniques.