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Updated: Aug 14, 2026
A Rapid and Specific Microplate Assay for the Determination of Intra- and Extracellular Ascorbate in Cultured Cells
Published on: April 11, 2014
Plasma ascorbic acid: measurement, stability and clinical utility revisited
W Y Chung1, J K Chung, Y T Szeto
1Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Aims:
To compare plasma ascorbic acid results by the colorimetric FRASC (Ferric Reducing/Antioxidant and Ascorbic Acid) assay and a reference HPLC method; to re-examine plasma ascorbic acid stability, and anticoagulant effect.
Design And Methods:
For method comparison, 31 plasma samples were tested by both methods. For stability, matching EDTA, heparin, citrate and fluoride/oxalate plasma, stored under different conditions of time and temperature, was measured.
Results:
FRASC is an acceptable alternative to HPLC for plasma ascorbic acid: precision, limit of detection and recovery were similar, and results by the two methods were indistinguishable: mean (95% CI) difference:1.8 (-1.1-4.6; n = 31) micromol/L. Ascorbic acid was most stable in heparinized plasma. Marked loss (p < 0.05) in EDTA plasma occurred within 30 min of blood collection.
Conclusions:
FRASC offers a speedy and reliable alternative to HPLC for plasma ascorbic acid. Heparin is proposed as the anticoagulant of choice; loss of ascorbic acid is rapid in EDTA plasma ex vivo.
