title: Interference of heparin in plasma levocarnitine determination with radioenzyme assay.
abstract: This paper describes the interference of heparin (CAS 9005-49-6) in whole plasma used for free and total levocarnitine (L-carnitine, CAS 541-15-1) analysis. Alkaline hydrolysis required for total L-carnitine measurement does not overcome the problem. The same interference is also present in long-chain acyl-L-carnitine assay, because heparin precipitates together with proteins and long-chain esters of L-carnitine in the acid insoluble fraction of perchloric acid treated plasma sample. In this case an appropriate cleaning of the sample is recommended before the assay.
authors.affiliation: Sigma-Tau S.p.A., Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetic Department, Pomezia, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marzo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cardace
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Corbelletta
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Verga
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vinciguerra
mesh_terms: D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D002331:Carnitine / Q000097:blood*; D002332:Carnitine O-Acetyltransferase; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006493:Heparin / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D010472:Perchlorates
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D010472:Perchlorates; D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D006493:Heparin; D004492:Edetic Acid; D002332:Carnitine O-Acetyltransferase; D002331:Carnitine