A method is described for xylose determination on the Ciba-Corning 550
Express that utilizes the slower enzymatic action of glucose dehydrog
enase (GDH) on D-xylose, after prior removal of glucose. Glucose oxida
se is added to serum or urine and incubated for 120 min at 37 degrees
C. After incubation, a perchloric acid filtrate of the specimen is add
ed to the GDH reagent in the presence of NAD, the amount of NADH produ
ced being propertional to the amount of xylose present. Absorbances at
340/380 nm are read at 180 s and 600 s after the reagent is added. Th
e standard curve is linear to 7.50 mmol/L and the method showed day-to
-day imprecision (CV%) of 2.7 (n = 18), 1.8(n = 17), and 2.2 (n = 17)
at concentrations of 0.62, 1.18, and 2.60 mmol/L, respectively. Recove
ries ranged from 99 to 106% for sera and 96 to 100% for urines. Good c
orrelation was obtained when tested against established automated ferr
icyanide and p-bromoaniline methods.