[Enzymatic determination of total cholesterol with the Greiner Selective Analyzer (GSA-II) (author's transl)]

A fully enzymatic method to determine total cholesterol in serum is described. The method appears especially suitable for adaptation to discrete mechanical analyzers either of the single channel or the multi-channel type. The method uses the enzymes cholesterol esterase (EC 3.1.1.13), cholesterol oxidase (EC 1.1.3.6) and peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) with 4-aminophenazone and phenol as substrates in the indicator reaction. The method was adapted to the Greiner Selective Analyzer GSA-II. For this purpose the critical parameters of the reaction were intensively examined. The complete reagent is stable within the GSA II dispenser at 4 degrees C for at least 1 week. By omitting cholesterol oxidase in the blank reagent a sample bland and a partial reagent blank are obtained. Within a range up to 10.4 mmol/1 (4.0 g/l) the maximum colour is developed within 6 minutes. The calibration factor was stable for 4 months. The method allows absolute measurements. At concentrations between 2 and 4 mmol/1 within-batch precision ranged from 0.5 to 1.4%. Precision from day to day for the same control sera amounted to 2.8; 2.0; 2.7 and 2.0% for a period of 3 months. Examination of accuracy yielded satisfying results. Ascorbic acid in the physiological range did not alter results to a significant extent. Catalase or novaminesulfone added in vitro did not interfere. Optical interferences by bilirubin, hemoglobin or turbidity are compensated by a sample blank. A comparison of results with the enzymatic method of Roeschlau et al. (Z. Klin. Chem. Klin. Biochem. 12, 226 (1974)) yielded satisfactory agreement. The limits of detection of the present method can be lowered by a factor of 2.2 by replacing phenol by dihalogen phenols.