GLOWING ANALYSES. MEASUREMENT OF ULTRAWEAK CHEMILUMINESCENCE AS AN ANALYTICAL TOOL
This article defines chemiluminescence, describes the instruments used to measure ultraweak chemiluminescence, and discusses its various applications. Chemical reactions which cause light emission are enumerated. Among these are the oxidation of organic and inorganic materials, inorganic acid-base reactions, beoluminescence, and the thermal decomposition of materials. Chemiluminescence measurement is considered a powerful tool in the study and measurement of polymer degradation and the quality control and analysis of fine chemicals. When applying the technique to chemical processes the following can be evaluated: the effect of structural differences on a material's stability; the effect of additives; the effect of processing changes; and the effect of a material's environment (radiation, temperature, atmosphere) or its stability.
Of the chemical tests used, we found that values for urinary free cortisol had the best clinical correlation and were the most sensitive indicator of cortisol secretion in a patient with Cushing’s syndrome who was treated with amino-glutethimide.