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Updated: Aug 20, 2025

Precise Electrochemical Sizing of Individual Electro-Inactive Particles
Published on: August 4, 2023
Interference of reversible redox compounds in enzyme catalysed assays - Electrochemical limitations
Craig McBeth1, Robert J Stott-Marshall2
1Biodiscovery Institute, Faculty of Science, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park Campus, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
Background:
Several commercial assay kits exist with limited explanation of the kit components and reagent constituents, which greatly increases potential incompatibility issues resulting in the loss of samples, time, and data. Herein we explore such issues via the redox ion [Fe(CN)6]3/4- in two commercial l-lactate and pyruvate assay kits.
Results:
We clearly demonstrate significant interference from redox compounds with the l-lactate and pyruvate assays; a significance in signal inhibition/mechanism restriction, and false/mechanism exhaustion, respectively. Potential mechanisms are explored to explain interference.
Conclusion:
The need for transparency is crucial for consistency of assay kit performance from lab to lab. There is a need for suppliers to list the components of kits and/or list the potential for interference from specific agents to ensure that results obtained from these kits are reliable and reproducible.
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