Comparison of a novel thin-layer chromatographic—fluorescence detection method with a spectrofluorometric method for the determination of 7-hydroxycoumarin in human urine

A novel method for the determination of 7-hydroxycoumarin in human urine which combines thin-layer chromatography (TLC) with fluorescence detection (FD) has been devised. The limit of detection (1 ng/ml) enables determination of 7-hydroxycoumarin after both administration of coumarin and environmental exposure to this fragrance material. When compared to a spectroflourometric method of analysis, the TLC—FD method proved to be more selective for the analysis of 7-hydroxycoumarin in human urine.