title: Temperatures used in the determination of enzyme activity in clinical biochemistry laboratories in Britain: results of a survey.
abstract: Information on the temperature used in the determination of enzyme activity in clinical biochemistry laboratories in Britain was obtained by circulating a questionnaire to 400 laboratories in Britain. Replies were analysed from 321 laboratories (80%). A large majority of laboratories use 37 degrees C to determine enzyme activity: 99% use this temperature for amylase, 88% for alkaline phosphatase, and 81% for aspartate and alanine amino-transferases. A greater proportion of laboratories with large workloads use 37 degrees C than do those with smaller workloads. The majority of laboratories use equipment with incubation temperatures that are selectable within the laboratory. When there is evidence of advantage in using a particular temperature most laboratories use this temperature. Almost one-quarter of the laboratories replying participate in a local agreement to use 37 degrees to determine enzyme activity. About one-third of laboratories consider it impracticable to change to 30 degrees C, and of those replying to the question on whether they were willing to change to 30 degrees C, 49% indicated that they were not willing to do so.
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D006801:Humans; D011786:Quality Control; D013696:Temperature; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000681:Amylases