Feasibility of multiple simultaneous enzyme assays, for diagnostic purposes, with the GeMSAEC fast analyzer.

The GeMSAEC fast analyzer provides the clinical chemistry laboratory with an analytical instrument that can be used to perform large numbers of kinetic enzyme analyses. Precise enzyme-rate analyses can be done routinely, on a large scale, and at a decreased cost per test. Improved precision in analyses of enzymes should provide more reliable data because analytical variation is lessened. We have asked how the fast analyzer might provide more useful diagnostic information to the clinician. We have selected the ratio of SGOT to SGPT activity in serum as an example, and examined instrumental precision. The coefficients of variation of the ratio, determined in the range of 50 and 140 Karmen units (which represents slightly elevated to clearly elevated values), are 4.8% and 2.2%, respectively. We examined the feasibility of measuring two or more enzyme activities simul. taneously in one sample, to produce a diagnostic enzyme profile. Determination of SGOT, SGPT, and GLDH in parallel is presented as an example. In addition, we illustrate spectrophotometric linearity at 340 nm and discuss instrumental noise and an experimental approach to determining it by use of a premix experiment.