A continuous-flow method for the determination of the activity of serum alkaline phosphatase in diethanolamine buffer

A procedure for determination of serum alkaline phosphatase activity (EC 3.1.3.1) in diethanolamine (DEA) buffer with an AutoAnalyzer II apparatus was designed. The buffer used was 1.0 mol/l DEA-HC buffer, pH 9.8 at 37 degree C, containing 0.5 mmol/l of MgCl2 and 10 mmol/l of substrate 4-nitrophenyl-phosphate. The reaction time was about 3 min at 37 degree C. The enzyme activity (U/l) was calculated by determining the amount of 4-nitrophenol formed in reaction. A sampling rate of 70 samples per hour can be used with good linearity up to 1000 U/l. The results obtained by the new continuous-flow system were compared with those measured by the kinetic method according to the Scandinavian recommendation (10). A close correlation between the two methods was observed.