An evaluation of the contribution of GLC techniques for the estimation of progesterone and pregnane steroids

The measurements which are of interest in a clinical context are the assay of progesterone in plasma and of pregnanediol in urine. Attention will be confined to these two steroids. Assay techniques are best assessed in terms of the purpose for which they are to be applied. The main clinical application for plasma progesterone assays is in determining whether and when ovulation takes place. The gas-chromatographic methods will be reviewed in the light of how accurately they can supply this information in fertility studies. In the case of urinary pregnanediol measurements the ease and speed of the technique becomes an important consideration and gas-chromatographic methods will be examined in terms of how far a gas-chromatographic endpoint makes it possible to avoid the more laborious steps associated with colorimetric methods.