An enzymatic method for the alpha-amylase assay which comprises a new procedure for eliminating glucose and maltose in biological fluids.

An alpha-amylase assay in biological fluids, characterized by a new procedure for eliminating glucose and/or maltose, was developed. The reagent includes thermostable glucokinase, glucosephosphate isomerase and phosphofructokinase obtained from a thermophile Bacillus stearothermophilus. Up to 4,000 mg/dl glucose or 600 mg/dl maltose had no effect on the measured value of alpha-amylase activity when measured at 37 degrees C, even at a serum volume fraction in the reagent of 1/50. Alpha-Amylase activity was monitored by the absorbance increase at 340 nm due to NADPH production. The assay has a high degree of precision, with the within-run and day-to-day coefficients of variation being 2.17% at 75.0 U/l and 2.49% at 112 U/l, respectively, and is linear up to about 2,500 U/l. Regarding interferences, bilirubin, urate, ascorbate, pyruvate, EDTA, sodium fluoride and others were found to have no effect on the assay, and the reagent in solution is stable for about 2 wk at low temperatures (6-8 degrees C).