Enzyme immunoassay of carbamazepine with a centrifugal analyzer

We describe a rapid enzyme immunoassay for carbamazepine with a centrifugal analyzer (Rotochem IIA-36). Reagent costs are reduced fourfold while good precision and sensitivity are maintained. Sample volume is 10 microliter, and as many as 28 patients' sera can be measured during an assay time of 225 s. Assay temperature is 30 degrees C, the wavelength 340 nn. Linearity is excellent for a carbamazepine concentration range of 1 to 12 mg/L; analytical recovery is quantitative. Results correlate well with those by liquid- and gas-liquid chromatography. Absorbance rates for each carbamazepine concentration are acquired by a multi-point kinetic rate program and a computer program provides a logit-log transformation of absorbance rate vs. concentration data for final calculations in the assay. Hemoglobin interference precludes analysis of severely hemolyzed specimens.