[Fluorimetric determination of urinary norepinephrine and epinephrine: assessment of the aluminium oxide-trihydroxyindole method and improvement by the analysis of fluorescence spectra (author's transl)].

A method is reported for the fluorimetric determination of urinary catecholamines. This method is essentially based on the classic aluminium oxide-trihydroxyindole procedure, but certain modifications have been introduced. A detailed investigation of all relevant parameters provides evidence of the reliability of the method. In cases of questionably increased catecholamine excretion values, the additional analysis of both excitation and fluorescence spectra is recommended in order to distinguish specific from non-specific fluorescence.