SpectrophotofluorometricDeterminationof Porphyrinsin Urine

A rapid procedure has been developed in which an anion-exchange resin and spectrophotofluorometry are used to determine total porphyrins in urine. After porphyrins are eluted from the resin with 3N HCI, their fluores-cence at 646 nm is measured with an Aminco-Bowman Spectrophoto-fluorometer. About 10 mm are required per analysis by a skilled technician. Added to urine specimens, 95.3 ± 4.9 % of uroporphyrin and 94.7 ± 9.6% of coproporphyrin, were accounted for. Eighteen normal urine samples contained an average of 0.063moI of porphyrin per liter (range, 0.028-0.176 moI/Iiter). The coefficient of variation, 2.9%, indicates the precision to be very satisfactory. Additional Keyphrases normal values. anion-exchange chromatography diagnosis of porphyrias, lead poisoning, liver damage In previous studies from this laboratory, anion-exchange columns were used for the routine analysis of porphyrins in urine (1). After elutio