[Studies of the thymol test]

The effect of buffer type and pH, used in thymol test, was studied. Three methods for standardization of the test were compared via 5 kinds of reaking devices. The effect of bilirubinemia and environment on the results obtained was studied. The normal values of the test were determined under standard conditions in 688 healthy subjects, both sexes and all age groups. The clinical significance of the test was studied in 322 patients with liver diseases. It was established that best results were obtained with veronal or TRIS-mallein buffer, with pH 7,55, that the standardization was most stable via latex particles from the firm Dade, identical results were obtained when Zaphirol was used, provided the thes was read exactly by the 30th min, after the mixing of the reagents, and the work with barium sulphate was rather capricious and sometimes inaccurate. Specol ZV-EK5 or apectrophotometer SED2 are recommended for that purpose. Bilirubin inhibits the positivation of the test, whereas the temperature range from 4 to 37 degrees C has no effect. The normal values of the test at the age over 1 year, making use of veronal buffer with pH 7,55 fluctuates from 0 to 4,76 SHE and when TRIS-mallein buffer with the same pH was used - from 0 to 4,11 SHE. The test performed under standard conditions was concluded to be able to enhance considerably its clinical significance in case of liver diseases.