Potentiometric urea biosensor based on ammonium-ion selective electrode has
been used in simple flow-injection bioanalytical system for the determinat
ion of removed urea in effluent Liquid during hemodialysis treatment. The i
nterferences from other components of the spent dialysate (mainly potassium
ions) were eliminated using reference cell detector with non-sensitized am
monium-ion electrode. The methods of signal correction were discussed. The
presented flow injection analysis (FIA) system allowing monitoring of urea
content in the range of concentrations correspond well with the amount of t
he analyte in real samples (1-20 mmol/l). Around 25 samples per hour can be
analyzed. Due to long operational Life-time of the applied biosensor the F
IA system can be useful over 3 weeks. The presented biosensor/FIA system ha
s been successfully applied for the biomedical control of real clinical pro
cesses. The results of analysis are useful for the evaluation of the clinic
al parameters of urea kinetic modeling: parameters KT/V, urea reduction rat
io (URR), percentage removal of urea (PRU) and total urea removal (TUR) for
intradialytic intervals and urea generation rate (G) and protein catabolic
rate (PCRn) for interdialytic intervals. These biomedical parameters are u
sed for describing the adequacy of hemodialysis therapy. (C) 2000 Elsevier
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