DETERMINATION OF BETA-AMINO-ISOBUTYRIC ACID IN URINE AND SERUM USING PRECOLUMN DERIVATIZATION TECHNIQUE

Beta-amino-isobutyric acid (BAIBA) in urine and serum has recently been used as a biological marker for exposure to carcinogens, lead and several toxic substances. This paper describes an automated gradient high-performance liquid chromatographic method (HPLC) for the determination of BAIBA with fluorescence detection in combination with pre-column O-phthalaldehyde (OPA) derivatization. The method is able to separate and detect 25 fmol of BAIBA within 30 minutes. The mean value for free BAIBA obtained from 20 normal subjects was 40.7 nmol/umol creatinine and 2.4 nmol/ml for urine and serum, respectively. The procedures described here are relatively simple' and are useful for screening 'of low level exposure to potential carcinogens.