Oxidation of alpha-hydroxybutyrate by human serum

2-Hydroxybutyrate is enzymically oxidized by the LDH of human serum. Optimal concentrations of hydrogen ion, substrate and coenzyme for this oxidation by sera from patients with disease of the heart or liver have been determined at 37 degrees C. The linearity of this reaction is limited to a point at which an assay procedure employing a 2-hydroxyburyrate substrate seems unsuitable.