Infant urine collection from

Fig. 2. A typical 20 X 20 cm thia-layer chromatography plate for the assay of the following compounds in infant urine A, pregnenolone B, DHA C, unknown D, 21-OH-pregnenolone E, androstenediol F, 16-oxo-androstenediol G, 16a-OH-DHA H, 16,8-OH-DHA I, 16a-OH-pregnenolone. The position of androstenetriol (not assayed) is shown at J. Samples of 16a-OH-DHA were run in positions 1 (1J25 gg), B (3.75 /xg), and 7 (5.0 /xg). Samples (2A jig) of all the steroids measured (except for the unknown and 16/8-OH-DHA) were run in position S. Duplicate extracts of urines collected from the same baby on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of life were run in positions 4, 6, 8, 9, and 10. The plate was sprayed with antimony trichloride then heated. From Shackleton and Mitchell (S9).

Menkes (1959) reported data collected from six more children. All showed symptoms similar to those described above, and died within 15 days to 20 months of birth. In one case, Menkes was able to obtain urine samples during the last months of the infant s life. When he treated the urine with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone, which forms colored precipitates with keto compounds, he found three a-keto acids in unusually large amounts ... 

The first eight compounds were separated in Bush paper chromatography system LB 21/80 and the remainder in Bush system T/75. Identification was by Rf value only. Quantitation was by averaging the results from urine collected during the first 3 postnatal days from at least 50 infants. Number of individual measurements from which each average Rf value was obtained is given in parentheses. 

Heroin or its metabolites have been identified in various biological matrices including plasma, urine, and saliva collected from human subjects administered heroin hair and sweat collected from heroin users urine, vitreous humor, and cerebrospinal fluid collected from cadavers whose death was due to narcotic intoxication and meconium collected from infants with prenatal exposure to heroin. Frequently, only morphine is assayed because of the instability of heroin and 6-acetylmorphine in blood, plasma, and... 

Patients. 24 h urine collections were made from 8 infants, under one year old and 8 young children, over one year old, using a urine collection bag where necessary. All had normal renal function and serum electrolytes, were receiving digoxin maintenance therapy and had been on the same digoxin dose for 5 days. The collection was abandoned if the bag leaked. 

It is desirable to collect as many different matrices from each study participant as is feasible and to process them with consideration of both immediately planned analyses of biomarkers and future uses. For example, several Children s Environmental Health Centers obtained urine, peripheral blood, cord blood, breast milk, meconium, saliva, hair, placental tissue, infant formula, indoor and outdoor air, and house dust from longitudinal birth cohort studies (Eskenazi et al. 2005). The centers have analyzed concentrations of numerous compounds in those biologic and environmental samples, such as pesticides, phthalates, mercury, lead, cotinine, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbone (PAHs), PAH-DNA adducts, allergens, endotoxin, antioxidant micronutrients, cholinesterase, and thyroid hormones. Most centers also banked samples for future analyses. 

Collection of a timed specimen from an infant is difficult, but fortunately such specimens are rarely required. The scrotal or perineal area is first cleaned and dried, and any natural or applied skin oils are removed. For an untimed specimen, a plastic bag (U-bag, Hollister Inc, Chicago IL or Tink-Col, C.R. Bard, Inc, Murray Hill, NJ) is placed around the infant s genitalia and left in place until urine has been voided. 

A metabolic bed is used to collect timed specimens from infants. The infant lies on a fine screen above a funnel-shaped base contahiing a drain under which a container is placed to receive urine. The fine screen retains fecal material. Nevertheless, the urine is likely to be contaminated, to some extent, by such material. 

To obtain a sterile urine specimen for culture from an infant, a suprapubic tap is performed. The collection of specimens from older children is done as in adults, using assistance from a parent when this is necessary. 

The present study included 150 infants (104 girls and 46 boys) identified through neonatal screening with blood TSH above 30 iU/ml on dried blood samples obtained at 3-5 days of life. The cause of CH was established by 125-iodine scan 20 had athyreosis, 92 ectopic gland, 25 a normally located gland. Ten patients had a transient elevation of TSH. The iodine status was based on the determination of iodine in urine samples collected at the out-patient clinic iodine excretion has been also measured in the urine from 100 mothers. 

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