A novel near-infrared (NIR) cyanine 1-(epsilon-succinimidyl-hexanoate)-1'-methyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-indoc arbocyanine-5,5'-disulfonate potassium (MeCy5-OSu) has been developed in our laboratory. Simultaneous determination of MeCy5-OSu-derivatized polyamines spermine (Spm), spermidine (Spd), cadaverine (Cad), and putrescine (Put) based on the separation by CE combined with diode LIF detection has been accomplished. The highest derivatization efficiency was achieved in 0.2 mol/L borate buffer (pH 8.8) for 20 min at 25 degrees C. Polyamine derivatives were separated within 14 min in the phosphate running buffer (pH 3) containing 50 mmol/L phosphoric acid, 40 mmol/L SDS, and 35% methanol v/v. Linearity of response was obtained in the range of 10-200 nmol/L. The detection limits (S/N = 3) for Spm, Spd, Cad, and Put were 0.8, 1, 3, and 2 nmol/L, respectively. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the analysis of polyamines in erythrocytes of two healthy persons and one cancer patient. Average recoveries for erythrocyte samples were 93.6-106% and coefficients of variation ranged from 1.8 to 5.4%. The analysis of polyamines in erythrocytes can be used for studying the relationship between their changes and the carcinogenesis process involved in erythrocytes.