title: Screening test for alpha 1-antitrypsin in dried-blood specimens.
abstract: We describe a fluorescent spot test for detecting alpha 1-antitrypsin activity in dried-blood specimens. The eluate of a blood disc is mixed with carbobenzoxy-L-arginine-7-amino-4-methylcoumarin amide and trypsin at the appropriate pH. In the absence of alpha 1-antitrypsin, aminomethylcoumarin, a strongly fluorescent compound, is released. The reaction mixture, when spotted on chromatography paper and viewed under ultraviolet light, exhibits a bright fluorescence only in the case of specimens with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency. alpha 1-Antitrypsin activity so estimated correlated well with quantitative assays of dried-blood spots and serum. The procedure is simple and inexpensive, and has the potential for use as a screening test.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D008722:Methods; D010641:Phenotype; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D012306:Risk; D012907:Smoking; D013048:Specimen Handling; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D019896:alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency
chemical_list: D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin