Determination of anions in human and animal tear fluid and blood serum by ion chromatography.

An important factor contributing to the development of ion chromatography (IC) has been the need for repetitive analyses of samples with high ionic contents and samples available in microvolumes. IC was selected for the determination of Cl, NO3, SO(2-)4 and PO(3-)4 anions in tear fluid and serum from ten human volunteers of both sexes, seven young-adult black vultures (Coragyps atratus) and three young-adult chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus). The samples were analysed on a Dionex Model 2000i/SP ion-exchange chromatograph equipped with an anion guard column (Dionex IonPac AG4A), anion separator column (Dionex IonPac AS4A), suppressor column (Dionex AMMS-II) and a conductivity detector. The flow-rte of the mobile phase, 1.7 mM NaHCO3 - 1.8 mM Na2CO3 was set at 2.0 ml/min. The R.S.D. was calculated to be less than 1.5% for all anions. In the human, black vulture and chicken serum samples, the NO3, PO(3-)4 and SO(2-)4 anion contents were higher than in tears; for Cl the reverse was found. No correlation was found amongst the anion concentrations present in the tear fluid and blood serum in all samples (p > 0.05). With no sample treatment, column maintenance was required.