A screening test for phosphoglycerate kinase deficiency

A simple screening test for the detection of X-linked recessive phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) deficiency in blood is described. It is based on the conversion of 3-phosphoglycerate to 1,3-diphosphoglycerate catalyzed by the PGK whose activity is visually estimated by the oxidation of NADH (fluorescent) to NAD+ (non-fluorescent) in a coupled reaction with the enzyme glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. The disappearance of fluorescence indicates PGK activity in the sample, while the contrary could be due to PGK deficiency. The utility of this test for the study of males with hereditary hemolytic anemia is stressed.