A rapid and sensitive fluorometric assay of serum phospholipid

A fluorometric assay of phospholipid in serum is presented. The reaction is based upon the binding of phospholipids with a fluorescent probe: 1-6-Diphenyl-1-3-5 hexatriene (DPH). The method is in very good agreement with other techniques for phospholipid estimation: phosphorus assay phospholipid extraction (Fiske and Subarrow), and enzymatic assay of phospholipid containing choline (Takayama). The correlation coefficient obtained was 0.81, when the proposed method was compared with the two other ones. Parameters influencing the reaction: DPH concentration, time and temperature of incubation are described. The normal range for human serum lies between 2.1 and 3.4 mmol/l. The sensitivity of the fluorometric assay is also sufficient for the determination of phospholipid in amniotic fluid and broncho-alveolar washings.