A rapid method for plasma ammonia estimation using an indigenously purified enzyme.

Area of Science:

• Clinical Chemistry
• Biochemical Diagnostics
• Enzymology

Background:

• Accurate determination of blood ammonia levels is crucial for diagnosing hepatic disorders.
• Existing methods may require optimization for clinical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To standardize and validate a novel enzymatic assay for blood ammonia determination.
• To assess the assay's performance characteristics and suitability for routine clinical use.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an indigenously purified enzyme for assay standardization.
• Employed a two-reagent system with a 5-minute reaction time at 25-27°C.
• Conducted performance evaluations including linearity, imprecision, functional sensitivity, and interference studies.

Main Results:

• The assay demonstrated stability for at least one year with lyophilized reagents.
• Plasma ammonia levels were significantly higher in patients with hepatic disorders (69.1±32.4 μMol/L) compared to controls (13.7±7.3 μMol/L).
• Functional sensitivity ranged from 2-1000 μMol/L with low coefficients of variation (1.1-3.7%).

Conclusions:

• The developed enzymatic assay is reliable, sensitive, and stable for quantifying blood ammonia.
• The assay's rapid turnaround time and broad measurement range make it ideal for routine clinical diagnostics of hepatic disorders.