Ion-chromatographic determination of plasma oxalate reexamined

This new procedure for determining oxalic acid in plasma is based on sample deproteinization with hydrochloric acid and acetonitrile and subsequent ion-chromatographic assay of the neutralized supernate. Sample pretreatment produces very clean samples, which ensures long column life. Mean analytical recovery of oxalate (5.0-10.0 mumol/L) added to plasma samples averaged 98.6 +/- 6.2%; imprecision (CV) was 5.2% (at 2.2 mumol/L) and the detection limit was 0.5 mumol/L at a signal-to-noise ratio of 5:1. Ascorbate to oxalate conversion was < 0.2%, indicating that the procedure is free from ascorbate interference. Plasma oxalate concentrations, measured in samples from 31 healthy persons, ranged from 0.8 to 3.4 mumol/L (mean 1.89, SD 0.75 mumol/L), which agrees with results from indirect radioisotopic dilution methods.