title: A high-sampling-rate automated continuous-flow fluorometric technique for the analysis of nanogram levels of histamine in biological samples.
abstract: An automated continuous-flow technique of the modified fluorometric method of Shore was devised to obtain a high sampling rate (60/h) and a sensitive measurement of the histamine content of biological samples. The volumes of samples range from 50 to 500 microliter. A linear relationship is obtained from 0 to 5 micrograms/ml (histamine base) with a good specificity. The limit of detection is 25 pg (actual amount). The coefficient of variation is less than or equal to +/- 5% for concentrations of less than 2 ng/ml and from +/- 0.2 to +/- 2% for higher concentrations. With this technique more sensitive, more specific, and twice as fast as similar ones, histamine content in 350-400 unknowns can be measured routinely in a working day. It has been used for more than 4 years and has proven to be a reliable and useful tool for the numerous research studies in which histamine is involved: immunology, allergy, pharmacology, dermatology, cancer, nutrition.
mesh_terms: D001491:Basophils / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003956:Dialysis; D006632:Histamine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D006636:Histamine Release; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000032:analysis; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000032:analysis; D008832:Microchemistry; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D006632:Histamine