Automated determination of acid phosphatase.

A procedureis presentedfor the automated determination of acid phosphatase activity in biological materials from either plant or animal origin. The Technicon N-i flow diagram has been simplified, and the reagents for the measurement of enzymatically produced phenolic substanceshave been modified without lossof range or sensitivity. Both phenyiphosphateand a-naphthylphosphate, introduced by Babsonet a!. (2, 3) for serum acid phosphatase,may be used as substrates. The Emersonreaction (alkaline aminoantipyrine and ferricyanide) with a-naphthol forms a more stable and reproducible color than the coupled product with tetrazotized o-dianisidine (Babson). Supporting data for these modifications are included.