Clinical researchers are often interested in measuring elevated concentrations of urine and plasma catecholamines and their 0-methylated metabolites (metanephrines). However, these compounds — in particular, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine — can be a challenge to analyze via reversed-phase LC-MS/MS due to their polarity. As a result, many research laboratories still analyze this panel using ion-pairing reagents and electrochemical detection (ECD). While reversed-phase LC-MS/MS has been used successfully, challenges still exist due to ion-suppression from matrix components, insufficient retention, and inadequate separation of normetanephrine and epinephrine.

By using our ACQUITY UPLC BEH Amide Column in hydrophilic interaction chromatography mode (HILIC) with the ACQUITY UPLC I-Class and Xevo TQ-S you'll get rapid and robust analysis with excellent accuracy and precision for catecholamines and metanephrines. Oasis WCX Solid-Phase Extraction (SPE), a mixed-mode, weak cation-exchange, reversed-phase, water-wettable polymer, is recommended for sample preparation.

Chromatography of catecholamines and metanephrines on the ACQUITY UPLC BEH Amide, 1.7 μm, 2.1 x 100 mm Column. Representative calibration standard spikes at 20 pg/ml (100 pg/mL for EP and NE).