A simplified liquid chromatography and electrochemical detection method for measurement of plasma noradrenaline.

A simplified, sensitive, and reliable method for the determination of noradrenaline (NA) in plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography and electrochemical detection is described. Investigations on the stability of NA in plasma and whole blood have effected an improvement in the method for collection and extraction of NA from plasma. Recycling the mobile phase and the elimination of the addition of antioxidants during the alumina extraction has resulted in savings in the costs of reagents and assay preparation time while retaining a recovery rate of 60% and improving detector response. The sensitivity of the assay for NA was 20 pg/ml of plasma using carbon paste prepared in the laboratory.