Rapid thin-layer chromatographic method for the detection of urinary methylmalonic acid

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

• Methylmalonic acid (MMA) is a biomarker associated with certain metabolic disorders.
• Accurate and rapid detection of MMA in urine is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.
• Existing methods for MMA detection may be complex or prone to false positives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate simple, rapid, and accurate thin-layer chromatography (TLC) techniques for urinary methylmalonic acid detection.
• To establish a reliable method for screening methylmalonic acid in urine samples.

Main Methods:

• Development of thin-layer and micro-thin-layer chromatography techniques.
• Utilized a silica gel-cellulose stationary phase and a butanol-acetic acid-water solvent system for separation.
• Employed tetrazotized o-dianisidine for visualization of methylmalonic acid spots.

Main Results:

• The developed TLC method demonstrated simplicity, convenience, and speed.
• The technique effectively separated methylmalonic acid from crude urine samples.
• The method successfully eliminated false-positive results and detected trace amounts of methylmalonic acid.

Conclusions:

• The described thin-layer chromatography techniques provide a simple, rapid, and accurate method for detecting methylmalonic acid in urine.
• This validated system is highly suitable for urinary screening programs, enhancing diagnostic efficiency.
• The method's ability to detect trace levels and avoid false positives improves diagnostic reliability.