High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a high-precision analytical method that plays an important role in modern laboratory medicine. Think of HPLC as a sophisticated filter that can separate different substances in a liquid.

At the heart of HPLC is a special column filled with a solid material. When a sample is pumped through this column, the different components move through it at different speeds – similar to different runners in an obstacle course. The sample is forced through the column under high pressure, resulting in a particularly precise separation.

HPLC is particularly valuable in medical diagnostics. It is used, for example, to detect vitamins and hormones in the blood or to monitor the concentration of drugs in the body. This is particularly important when treating with antibiotics or other medications whose dosage needs to be precisely adjusted.

Another important area of application is the quality control of medicines. With the help of HPLC, pharmaceutical companies can ensure that their products contain the right amount of active ingredients and are free from impurities.

HPLC also plays an important role in medical research. Scientists use it to search for certain biomarkers in blood or tissue samples – these are substances that can indicate diseases. For example, HPLC analyses have identified an important marker for diabetes.

The particular strength of HPLC lies in its high accuracy and sensitivity. It can detect even the smallest amounts of a substance and is therefore often referred to as the “gold standard” when it comes to precise measurements in medicine.

Further information:

INQUIRED: “The laboratory value alone says little about the patient’s condition” – MedLabPortal

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