Fluorometric fast analyzer: some applications to fluorescence measurements in clinical chemistry.

A fluorometric Fast Analyzer has been developed, based on the GeMSAEC Fast Analyzer principle. Potential applications of a multiple-cuvet fluorometric analyzer are considered. A primary concern must be referencing enzyme activity assays and enzymic substrate analyses. Once adequate referencing techniques are developed, adaptation of analyses can proceed. The advantages of fluorescence procedures are sensitivity, availability of a variety of fluorogenic substrates, and potential perturbation of the excited state for direct physical measurements of interacting species. We describe the development of a direct kinetic assay, with use of 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate, for human prostatic acid phosphatase; discuss assay of alkaline phosphatase activity with use of the same substrate; and consider the sensitivity of the analyzer as it relates to fluorescence tracer techniques and measurement of fluorescence polarization with the Fast Analyzer.