An accurate and sensitive analysis by high-pressure liquid chromatography of conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin IX-α in various biological fluids

Abstract

An accurate and sensitive method was developed for the complete separation of the native tetrapyrroles, such as bilirubin and its mono- and di-conjugates of glucuronic acid, glucose and xylose, by ion-pair reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. The application of this method was demonstrated by the analysis of bile pigments in human bile and urine, and the method also makes it possible to estimate very low UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity, such as is found in the human foetal and neonatal liver.