[Dried blood spot Vitamin A determination by high pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection]

In tropical countries. vitamin A deficiency is one of the most important dietary deficiencies. Its monitoring usually involves analysis of retinol after venipuncture with some difficulties (disease transmission, religious belief). Sample collection on Dried Blood Spot (DBS) is less invasive and safer. Sample storage is easier. We developed a liquid chromatography method with electrochemical detection to measure DBS retinol. Retinol acetate was used as an internal standard. The method is linear up to 2.5 microM with a detection limit of 0.04 microM. Precision is below 10% and DBS retinol recovery overage is 90%. DBS retinol concentration decreased during 7 days after sampling, it is necessary to wait this delay before to determine vitamin A concentrations. In Congolese children DBS retinol measurement showed a severe vitamin A deficiency in 8% of them. This percentage is closely correlated with clinical parameters.