New automated dye-binding method for serum albumin determination with bromcresol purple

We describe a new automated dye-binding method for serum albumin determination with bromcresol purple (BCP) that has several advantages over an existing bromcresol green (BCG) method. The continuous-flow method is sensitive, linear, and precise, with negligible sample interaction at an analytical rate of 60 samples per hour. Unlike BCG, BCP did not react with an albumin-free serum globulin preparation or pure human transferrin solutions. Reaction with serum was instantaneous; in contrast, BCG exhibits a slow nonspecific reaction with some specimens. The specificity of BCP was demonstrated by good agreement with results of "rocket" immunoelectrophoresis (EIA) where y(BCP) = 0.95X(EIA) + 1.72. The BCG method overestimated serum albumin concentration where y(BCG) = 1.01X(EIA) + 6.77. Precipitation, which affects the BCG method, was not observed with BCP. Blank corrections were negligible, salicylate did not interfere, and bilirubin affected the method only if present in very high concentration. The method offers a solution to the poor accuracy of existing BCG methods while retaining many of their desirable features.