DETERMINATION OF ESTRADIOL AND ESTRIOL BY SINGLE-SWEEP POLAROGRAPHY

A sensitive and rapid single-sweep polarographic assay was developed for the determination of estradiol or estriol. The assay involves a controlled nitration using 0.4 M sodium nitrite solution at 100-degrees-C in a water-bath for 30 min. The nitrated estradiol or estriol is determined directly in the reaction mixture by polarography. Because of the strong adsorption ability of nitro derivatives, the sensitivity in single-sweep polarography is extremely high. The detection limits are as low as 6 x 10(-8) and 4 x 10(-8) M, respectively. The procedure was applied to the determination of estriol in the urine of pregnant women.