A Rapid and Precise Technique for Identifying 5-HIAA in Complex Biological Specimens

Ehrlich reagent has been commonly used as colorimetric reagents for detection of indole group compound. The method is advancement for the colorimetric determination of 5-HIAA metabolite. The preparation of reaction mixture containing Ehrlich reagent (100 mg) in Conc HCl: Methanol (9:1) is simple, requires less time consuming. The sample is pre-treated with 0.1M per chloric acid for deproteinization of protein or interfering components is removed and the filtrate obtained after treatment of a small quantity of urine. The addition of Ehrlich's reagent mixture to this filtrate results in the immediate production of a stable green colour within 10sec of interaction of 5-HIAA present in urine sample. The determination is accurate, very sensitive and rapid, and reaction is completed within 1 min.