The development of computer programs to predict and minimise the effect of sample pyruvate on aspartate...

Some NADH-linked aspartate aminotransferase (AST) assay systems may produce significant errors due to endogenous pyruvate because the pre-incubation time employed is too short and/or because the reagent lactate dehydrogenase (LD) activity is inadequate. Such errors in patient specimens may go unnoticed if quality control materials themselves contain a low pyruvate concentration. A theory of pyruvate interference in AST assay is formulated and calculation programs are described which will allow a laboratory to assess whether their particular AST methods are likely to be subject to such interference and also to predict a way of removing any error thus identified.