RAPID-DETERMINATION OF BLOOD-SERUM RETINOL BY REVERSE-PHASE OPEN COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY

An aqueous, reverse phase, open column procedure (RP C18) was develope d for the rapid determination of retinol in serum. The samples were ex tracted with hexane and separated on the column with methanol and wate r as the mobile phase. Two methods were developed depending on the siz e of the sample. For 2 ml of serum a spectrophotometer was used to qua ntify the sample and for 0.1 ml of serum a fluorometer was used. Phyto fluene was retained on the top of the column and the column was reusab le. The agreement between HPLC and the RP C18 open column was good. Th e lower limit of detection for micromethod was about 1.25 mug of retin ol per dl of serum and the recovery of added retinol was quantitative.