Monitoring of homocysteine and related compounds in blood by MEKC.

A reproducible, rapid procedure for the determination of homocysteine, cysteine, and glutathione in human blood by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) has been developed. Whole blood samples were deproteinized and centrifuged, and the supernatant was directly introduced into the capillary for analysis without further derivatization. Separations were performed using an uncoated capillary of 30 cm effective length and 50 microns i.d.; 20 mM phosphate, 20 mM borate, and 50 mM SDS, pH 9.00, as running buffer; and an applied voltage of 18 kV. On-line detection was carried out at 214 nm.