[A single, rapid, selective and quantitative determination of adrenaline and noradrenaline in the plasma by a combination of solvent extraction, HPLC separation and electrochemical detection].

A very simple and rapid solvent extraction system for the selective and quantitative isolation of epinephrine and norepinephrine from plasma is described. The extraction system makes use of the complex formation in alkaline medium between diphenylborate and the diol group of the catecholamines in combination with ion-pair formation. The extraction procedure, in conjunction with HPLC-separation and electrochemical detection, allows the quantitative determination of epinephrine and norepinephrine from plasma. This method is a specific as the commonly used adsorption on alumina, but has a much better recovery and even greater precision, especially for the quantitative determination of epinephrine.