Urinary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol determination using reversed-phase chromatography with amperometric detection.

A reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method with amperometric detection has been developed for the determination of urinary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol. Before and after enzymatic deconjugation, it was purified by an extraction procedure and rapidly quantified under isocratic conditions. The 24-h excretion profile in normal human subjects (eight males and seven females) was determined; our results are consistent with those arrived at in a number of other studies. The present method is highly sensitive and selective; in addition, a good degree of precision is assured by use of 4-methoxy-3-hydroxyphenylglycol as internal standard.