Determination of urinary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol by liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

The increasing popularity of urinary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) determinations has placed a demand on clinical laboratories to provide these data. Previous methods for MHPG either exhibit unacceptable performance, are too slow, or utilize instrumentation not commonly employed in these laboratories. The liquid chromatography electrochemical detection method described here has several positive features. MHPG is isolated by extraction, separated by liquid chromatography, and quantitated at an amperometric electrode. The precision, simplicity, and relatively low cost makes this new method an ideal choice for the clinical laboratory.