A Method for the Quantitation of Trace Levels of Dimethyl Sulfoxide in Urine by High Performance Liquid Chromatography
Abstract
According to western intelligence reports, the Eastern Bloc countries are well in the lead in research and development of chemical warfare agents (1- 3). Therefore, the NATO countries are interested in designing, testing, and improving protective equipment (PE), and their associated standard operating procedures (SOPs) as a defence against these agents. One method to evaluate the protection level of the PE and SOPs would be to use, in a realistic fashion, an intake simulant of a chemical warfare agent. Should the intake simulant enter the body and subsequently be detected in the body fluids then this would indicate faulty equipment and/or procedures. A semi-automated liquid chromatographic system for the extraction and concentration of trace levels of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in human urine has been developed. Urine samples are passed through a low pressure cation-exchange column as a cleanup step prior to solid phase extraction on a low pressure charcoal column. With this method, previously unreported low levels of naturally occurring DMSO were discovered. The method also revealed a decrease in recoveries of DMSO with time indicating a potential instability of the analyte at these low concentrations. Keywords: Chemical warfare agent simulant; Test methods.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA211507
Entities
People
- Claude L. Chenier
- James R. Hancock
Organizations
- Defence Research and Development Canada