Simple continuous TLC to separate sugars in urine and blood, Berry-Woolf and Guthrie specimens

What is it about?

We describe the history and current implementation of an inexpensive thin layer chromatography (TLC) method, vertical sandwich-type continuous/evaporative TLC with fixed mobile phase volume, that is convenient for detecting and identifying reducing sugars of clinical relevance in the paper-borne blood and urine samples collected in neonatal screening programes. This method facilitates screening by providing a considerable degree of standardization of chromatographic results. Among some 555,000 newborns to which it has been applied, it has detected 10 cases of classical galactosaemia, 7 cases of galactokinase deficiency, 2 cases of glucosuria, and 3 cases of transitory neonatal diabetes mellitus; the only false negatives we are aware of where two cases of galacto-4-epimerase deficiency detected by tandem mass spectrometry. Screening for sugars in urine has allowed the detection of galactosaemia when the accompanying blood sample was invalid because of transfusion or parenteral feeding. The conclusión is that this inexpensive procedure is very useful for the detection of relevant metabolopathies in circumstances where others fail. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 24:106–112, 2010. r 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Key words: sandwich TLC; continuous TLC; sugars; saccharides; oligosaccharides; dried urine on paper; newborn screening; galactosaemia; neonatal diabetes; glycosurias.

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Why is it important?

The mobile phase without pyridine is original and improves the above, has no disadvantages for health and environment.

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