A Simple and Rapid Procedure for the Determination of α Amino-nitrogen and Ammonia in Urine

Abstract

The ninhydrin-colorimetric procedure for the determination of urinary α amino-nitrogen has been simplified by the use of the Conway microdiffusion unit to remove ammonia from the sample. In this way, urinary ammonia is measured, and at the same time an ammonia-free urine sample is ready for α amino-nitrogen analysis. Values for total and free α amino-nitrogen in normal urine samples were found to be similar to those previously reported by more complicated procedures.