Separation of oxalate, formate and glycolate in human body fluid samples by capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductometric detection

A new method for rapid determination of toxic metabolites after methanol and ethylene glycol intoxication - oxalate, formate and glycolate in various body fluid samples (blood serum, saliva, urine, exhaled breath condensate) by capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductometric detection was developed. A selective separation of the three target analytes from other constituents present in the analyzed biological matrices was achieved in less than 6 min in a fused silica capillary of 25 mu m I.D. using an electrolyte comprising 50 mM L-histidine and 50 mM 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid at pH 6.1. The only sample preparation was dilution with deionized water. The limits of detection were 0.4, 0.6 and 1.3 mu M and limits of quantitation 1.3, 1.9 and 4.2 mu M for oxalate, formate and glycolate, respectively. The method provides a simple and rapid diagnostic test in suspected intoxication and is able to distinguish the ingested liquid, based on its metabolite trace. The method presents a fast screening tool that can be applicable in clinical practice. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.