An Accurate Simplification of the Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic and Pyruvic Transaminases Method, Observations, and Normal Values

Abstract

A simple method for determining serum glutamic-oxaloacetic (SGOT) and pyruvic (SGPT) transaminase activities is described. The ease, relatively low cost, and reliability of this method indicate that it will be of use in laboratories where low range spectrophotometers are not available. The influence of temperature, sample size, and light source maximums are discussed. It is shown that elevation of reaction temperature to 37C corrects for apparent loss of transaminase activity caused by performing the test and measuring activity at 355 m[mu]u rather than at the ideal wave length of 340 m[mu]. The upper limits of the range of normal activities of SGOT and SGPT have been determined to be 40 to 44 Karmen units. There is a critical range through 40 to 50 units at which accurate reproducible results and judicious clinical interpretation of laboratory results are particularly desirable. A sample size of 0.2 ml of serum provides normal, borderline, and abnormal results with good reproducibility. Abnormally high activity (3400 units of SGOT) has been recorded by dilution of serum to 1:100.