MONOSEGMENTED FLOW-ANALYSIS OF SLOW ENZYMATIC-REACTIONS - DETERMINATION OF TRIGLYCERIDES IN SERUM

A monosegmented flow system (MCFA) is proposed to achieve slow enzymat ic spectrophotometric determinations, here applied to the determinatio n of triglycerides in blood serum. The sample (4.5 mu L), enzymatic re agent (150 mu L) and an air plug (100 mu L) are simultaneously inserte d into a carrier stream buffered to pH 7.9 (Tris.HCl). In order to avo id the cumbersome step of air removal, a relocating detector was used. This system handles about 60 samples/h, yielding precise results (r.s .d. usually < 2.5%). Sensitivity is 56 mAU.L/mmol up to 6 mmol/L trigl ycerides. Accuracy was assessed by running 50 samples already analysed by a conventional procedure yielding the equation C-MCFA(mmol/L) = 1. 00(+/- 0.04) C-Ref(mmol/L)- 0.03(+/- 0.08); r = 0.990.