A simple, rapid selected ion monitoring method for the determination of prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha in human urine.

A new procedure for the simultaneous measurement of prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha in human urine is described. Quantification was achieved by gas chromatography mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring and deuterium labeled internal standards. The levels of measured prostaglandins ranged from 25 pg ml-1 of urine (PGE2) to 2500 pg ml-1 (PGF2 alhpa). The interassay coefficient of variation, determined by replicate analysis of four identical samples, was 1.9% for PGE2 and 0.8% for PGE2 alpha. The procedure takes a fraction of the time needed with published methods and can be conducted with as little as one-tenth of the daily urinary output.