Determination of myoglobin in human serum by high-performance liquid chromatography with chemiluminescence detection

A highly sensitive method for the determination of myoglobin in serum is described, based on high-performance size-exclusion chromatography with chemiluminescence detection. Serum proteins are separated according to their molecular masses on columns packed with TSK-SW gel and those containing haem are detected selectively by post-column chemiluminescence reaction with luminol using a conventional fluorimetric detector. The method is rapid (30 min) and sufficiently sensitive for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction. The minimum detectable myoglobin concentration is 10 ng/ml.