Automated fluorometry as applied to the assay of individual estrogens in purified urinary extracts.

Using the Kober-lttrich fluorescence procedure, automated fluorometry was applied to the assayof individualestrogensand their 3-methyl ether derivatives in the purified urinary extracts of nonpregnant women. The values obtained by using this new automated scheme were comparedwith those obtained by the manual time-decay modification of the Slaunwhite-Engel fluorescence method; the comparisonshowsexcellent correlation. A ratio of the corrected peak reading at 54 m. excitation to the corrected peak reading at 490 m. excitation was used not only to follow the effect of introducing additional purification stages in the development of assay procedures, but also to follow impurity levels in sample analyses.The same assemblyof modules can be used for samples dissolvedin acidified water, 70% methanol, and, with a simple change of manifold, in I N sodium hydroxide. This fully automated assay providesprecise conditions in all stages.