A stopped-flow clinical analyzer in which immobilized-enzyme reaction loops are used.

A stopped-flow clinical analyzer is described that makes use of a reaction loop containing immobilized enzyme(s) for the determination of the analyte/substrate. The analyzer has been evaluated by determining glucose with immobilized glucose oxidase. The stopped-flow mixing system was constructed at a current cost of less than $500. The analyzer separates the enzymatic reaction from a followup, spectrophotometric indicator reaction. This separation allows the enzymatic reaction to be used in either a fixed-time, kinetic mode or in an equilibrium mode. Likewise, the indicator reaction can be used in either mode. Results for glucose in blood serum indicate that good precision and accuracy can be obtained.