Use of 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolone hydrazone in an automated colorimetric method for determination of triglycerides in plasma or serum.

for the determination of serum or plasma triglycerides. The samples are extracted with 2propanol containing activated alumina. An AutoAnalyzer Sampler II and Proportioning Pump II are used in combination with a Gilford Model 300 N spectrophotometer and Model 3091-A debubbler flow cell. Following on-line saponification, glycerol is oxidatively cleaved with sodium metaperiodate. The resulting formaldehyde is reacted with 3methyl-2-benzothiazolone hydrazone (M BTH) under mild conditions to produce the corresponding azine. Further reaction of MBTH with the azine in the presence of an oxidizing agent results in the formation of a blue cationic adduct. Beer’s law is obeyed, at 670 nm, to a triglyceride concentration of 400 mg/100 ml. Because of the high sensitivity of the MBTH reaction, short incubation periods, high sampling rates (60/h), and low flow rates can be used. The results correlate well with those obtained by the Kessler-Lederer method and by a totally enzymatic method.