Direct Method for Determining Inorganic Phosphate in Serum with the "CentrifiChem"

Abstract

A direct method was developed for determining inorganic phosphate in serum, which requires only a single reagent addition. The method quantitates the unreduced phosphomolybdate heteropolyacid at 340 nm and is linear to at least 10 mg of phosphate per 100 ml. Only 10 µl of serum is required. The unique blanking capabilities of centrifugal analyzers permit the "on run" elimination of serum and reagent background absorbances, which are automatically subtracted. Data on precision, correlation, and recovery are presented. Kinetics of the reaction were studied, and theoretical limits of automatic blanking when applied to a first-order reaction are discussed.