Determination of uric acid by an anion-exchange column chromatography

A column chromatography using a conventional anion-exchange resin for the separation of uric acid from other purine metabolites is described. It uses a HCl gradient, and the amount of uric acid is quantified directly by monitoring the absorbance of the effluent at 285 nm. The linear range of response is 0.5 to 100 nmol. The method was applied to the analysis of uric acid in urine and serum. Urine was injected directly into the system, while serum required removal of an interfering substance which absorbs the light and coelutes with uric acid. However, this substance was simply removed by heat coagulation of serum by heating in a boiling water bath for 2 min.