Application of high-performance thin-layer chromatography for the detection of organophosphorus insecticides in human serum after acute poisoning.

We developed a rapid and simple method for identifying 25 commonly used organophosphorus insecticides in human serum using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). These organophosphates were separated on plates with three different developing systems within 6-18 min and detected by means of ultraviolet radiation and coloring reactions with 4-(4-nitrobenzyl)pyridine-tetraethylenepentamine reagent (NT reagent) or palladium chloride reagent (PdCl2 reagent). Each organophosphate was accurately identified by means of the R(F) x 100 value and the spot color in three systems. The detection limits of dichlorvos, fenitrothion, malathion, methidathion, parathion and trichlorfon in serum by the liquid-liquid extraction method were 1.1, 0.12, 0.12, 0.05, 0.6 and 0.1 microg/ml, respectively. These sensitivities may be sufficient to detect those organophosphates in patient serum after acute poisoning.