Fluorometric measurement of serum magnesium with a centrifugal analyzer

We developed a rapid fluorometric assay for measurement of serum magnesium using the ligand, 8-hydroxy-quinoline-5-sulfonate and adapted the procedure to the Multistat Fluorescence Light Scattering Centrifugal Analyzer. The standard curve extends from 0.26 to 4.11 mmol/l. There was no interference from calcium or inorganic phosphorus at concentrations of 4.95 and 5.0 mmol/l, lead, iron, zinc or copper at twice the normal levels found in serum, bilirubin at concentrations of 10 mg/dl, or lipemic samples with triglyceride concentrations of 2400 mg/dl. Citrate and EDTA lowered magnesium concentrations in serum. Analytical recovery of magnesium added to four serum specimens averaged 97%. Between-run and within-run precision of the assay gave CVs which ranged from 2.9 to 7.6%. Magnesium concentrations, measured by our fluorometric procedure, were compared with those obtained by atomic absorption and colorimetric procedures. Correlation coefficients of 0.91 and 0.88 were obtained.