Semi-automated colorimetric method for measuring glycohemoglobin, with reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium, evaluated

I evaluated a semi-automated method for measuring glycohemoglobin via reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium by acetone-extracted globin. The simultaneous measurement of glycated protein and total protein with the Roche Mira S analyzer showed good analytical precision (between-batch CV 3.5%-8.5%). Correlation of results (y) with those by a boronate affinity chromatography method (x) gave a regression line of y = 2.0x + 5.9 for samples from patients attending a diabetic outpatient clinic. I also studied reaction kinetics; chloromercuribenzoate concentration, sample volume, and detergent concentration affect the reaction, probably by modulating the reduction of dye by globin-thiol groups.