Determination of homocysteine and other low-molecular-weight amino thiols in blood plasma

A current approach to determining low-molecular-weight amino thiols (cysteine, homocysteine, and glutathione) in model samples and blood plasma is considered. Procedures for determining 2–100 μM homocysteine in blood plasma with the use of microcolumn chromatography and capillary electrophoresis were developed. Photometric and fluorimetric detection techniques were used to identify amino thiols. Monobromobimane and 5-iodoacetamidofluorescein were used as labels. Mass spectrometry was used to confirm the structures of test amino thiol derivatives.