Rapid enzymatic determination of amylase in serum and urine using a centrifugal analyzer

A convenient, totally enzymatic procedure for amylase assay using a centrifugal analyzer is described. The reaction scheme is examined using both starch and maltotetroase as substrates. Data for the reaction kinetics, linearity and sensitivity are presented. The proposed method exhibits linear reaction kinetics between three and five minutes after the initiation of the reaction and is linear to 1200 U per liter of amylase. The determination is rapid, (five minutes analysis time), convenient, (only one reagent), and precise, (1.2% within-day C.V. and 4.6% day-to-day C.V.), at a level of 62 U per liter. The proposed method compares favorably with chromogenic procedures; (r = 0.979, n = 84).