Urinary Corticoids by Gas Chromatography

The ideal tool in human steroid chemistry would be one that would separate a conglomerate of steroids and render a quantitative answer for each with a minimum of time and effort. We have not expected GLC to do this alone. Our aim has been to utilize preliminary solvent partition extraction; column, paper, or TLC; and GLC for isolation and quantitation of urinary steroids. Our approach has been to analyze the steroids as the free alcohols or ketones rather than as acetates or ethers. We recognize the advantage of derivatives, but we are also concerned about incomplete conversion of the steroids to esters and ethers. This paper is a short presentation of our experience with GLC of adrenal steroids.