Patent ID: 7611844

Claim:
A method of detecting asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in a sample comprising ADMA and at least one of symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) and arginine, the method comprising the steps of: a) contacting the sample with an agent that protects the α-amino group of ADMA and the α-amino group of the at least one of SDMA and arginine, generating a sample comprising ADMA having a protected α-amino group and at least one of SDMA and arginine having a protected α-amino group; b) contacting the sample generated in step (a) with an α-dicarbonyl compound, wherein said α-dicarbonyl compound modifies the guanidino nitrogens of SDMA and the guanidino nitrogens of arginine, producing modified SDMA and modified arginine, wherein said modified SDMA and said modified arginine are distinguishable from ADMA; and c) detecting ADMA in the sample generated in step (b).