HPLC analysis of nucleotides

This project developed a novel hydrophilic interaction chromatography method for the detection and identification of nucleotides. The method was validated by testing biological specimens; adult and neonatal saliva, and red and white blood cell extracts. The project discovered an interesting difference between the adult and neonatal saliva specimens. The neonatal saliva contained 5 additional nucleotides and the nucleotides were present in greater concentrations, when compared to the concentrations in adult saliva. With further optimisation this method may be applied to testing in Pathology services and would facilitate the diagnosis of metabolic diseases that affect nucleotides