title: Routine alpha-amylase assay using protected 4-nitrophenyl-1, 4-alpha-D-maltoheptaoside and a novel alpha-glucosidase.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In contrast to numerous methods for measuring alpha-amylase activity, the approved IFCC reference method offers an invariable time-independent constant product pattern, thus avoiding possibly changing stoichiometric calculations. However, reference methods do not lend themselves to routine use, so that such methods need to be modified.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ethylidene-blocked 4-nitrophenylmaltoheptaoside (EPS-G7) is degraded to glucose and 4-nitrophenol in a coupled assay with a bacterial alpha-glucosidase under the following measurement conditions: 3.5 mmol/L EPS-G7, 7.1 kU/L alpha-glucosidase, 70 mmol/L sodium chloride, 1 mmol/L calcium chloride, 50 mmol/L HEPES, pH 7.15, at 37 degrees C. The increase of absorbance is continuously monitored for 3 min at 405 nm after a lag phase of 2 min.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Catalytic concentrations up to 15-fold higher than the upper reference limit can be determined without dilution. Precision studies in manual performance show CVs of 1.4-2. 6% (within-run) and 1.9-2.8% (day-to-day). There was no interference from 100 mmol/L glucose, 30 mmol/L triacylglycerols, 610 micromol/L bilirubin, and 2.95 g/L hemoglobin. The method closely correlates with other chromogenic assays. The preliminary 0.95 reference interval for adults, not dependent on age and sex, is 33.6-96.2 U/L.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The procedure is a robust adaptation of the reference method to routine use at 37 degrees C with increased sensitivity, fewer interferences, and reduced cost.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Klinische Chemie, Medizinische Universität Lübeck, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lorentz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005960:Glucosides / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000737:chemistry; D012016:Reference Values; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000737:chemistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases
chemical_list: D005960:Glucosides; C036167:4-nitrophenyl maltoheptaoside; D000516:alpha-Amylases; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases