An investigation into the determination of corticosteroids in urine. I. The determination of corticosterone-like substances.

In the present investigation it has been found that the ability of deoxycorticosterone and corticosterone to produce the theoretical amount of formaldehyde when treated with periodic acid is unimpaired by previous treatment with hot dilute mineral acids. The ability of cortisone to react with periodic acid to produce formaldehyde is reduced to negligible proportions by such treatment. As a result a method is described