Rapid determination of urine estriol by an on-column derivatization procedure

Estriol in pregnancy urine is determined by acid hydrolysis of steroid conjugates, followed by ether and aqueous sodium hydroxide extraction and gas chromatography. Derivatives are formed within the injection port of the gas chromatograph using tetramethylammonium hydroxide. Several samples may be processed simultaneously. Hydrolysis and extraction of a specimen are done in a single culture tube; for larger numbers of specimens, a Paton-Brown extractor may be used. With a two-column gas chromatograph, results on two specimens are available within one hour; twelve analyses may be completed within two hours.