REACTION RATE ANALYSER

This is used for determining concentration of enzymes in samples of body fluids. Most chemical determinations are made using the end point of a chemical reaction, and the concentrations are established by photometric methods. In the case of enzymes the concentrations are manifested through the rate of a particular chemical reaction. Thus the progress of the reaction must be monitored throughout its course so that the reaction rate either at the beginning of the reaction or during the course of it can be determined by curve fitting or some other method, usually by computer.

One particular type of reaction rate analyser is the centrifugal autoanalyser in which the reactions take place in cuvettes mounted around the edge of a centrifuge rotor which passes between the light source and the photometer of a colorimeter. The progress of the reaction taking place in each cuvette can be monitored at frequent intervals determined by the speed of the rotor. The initial or standard reaction rate may be determined to identify the concentration of an enzyme. The standard rate of reaction may be used to determine such enzymes as alkaline phosphatase, creatinine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, and serum pyruvic transaminase. An enzyme analyser is usually a reaction rate analyser.

Content and Design Copyright 2000 Dr. Malcolm C Brown.  See Title Page for more details