Rapid extraction of leukotrienes from biologic fluids and quantitation by high-performance liquid chromatography

Previous methods for the recovery and quantitation of leukotrienes have involved tedious extraction procedures, and high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) techniques with significant limitations. We have designed a method to extract leukotrienes from biologic fluids using commercially available silica mini-columns requiring minimal preparation. Sample clarification is followed by a sensitive and reproducible HPLC technique which separates and quantifies the leukotrienes LTC4, LTD4, LTB4 (and at least three of their isomers). The entire procedure requires less than one hour per sample.