DETERMINATION OF CHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY IN BRAIN AND BLOOD-SAMPLES USING A PLATE READER

A rapid method is described for the quantitative determination of chol inesterase activity in large batches of blood and brain samples. The t echnique is an adaptation of the Ellman procedure for a 96-well microt iter plate reader. Ten samples can be analyzed simultaneously in 5 min , with all calculations, including statistical analysis, done automati cally. The method detection limit is 0.1 mu M/mL/min for blood and 0.1 mu M/g/min for brain samples. The procedure has been applied to the r outine analyses of samples presented to the veterinary diagnostic labo ratory. Method performance, quality control, and normal ranges of chol inesterase activity in livestock and other animals are described.