pH method for determination of cholinesterase in whole blood: collaborative study

A collaborative study of an indirect method for determination of cholinesterase activity was conducted with cattle blood. Ten collaborators analyzed 8 samples of varying degrees of cholinesterase inhibition. The sample is diluted with a buffer, and the pH change that results from the hydrolysis of acetylcholine is monitored. Repeatability relative standard deviations (RSDr) ranged from 6.6 to 8.6%, and reproducibility relative standard deviations (RSDR) ranged from 10.7 to 17.3% for mean activities of 0.60-0.40 delta pH/h. All samples that were completely inhibited were detected. The method was adopted first action by AOAC International for determination of cholinesterase activity in whole bovine blood.