Direct assays of lactate, pyruvate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetoacetate with a centrifugal analyzer.

Methods are described for direct assays of lactate, pyruvate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetoacetate in plasma with the GEMSAEC centrifugal analyzer. The methods for lactate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetoacetate are kinetic and ratiometric, eliminating the need for specimen-blank assays. The pyruvate method is an end-point assay, because endogenous lactate dehydrogenase interferes in a kinetic pyruvate assay. The methods are precise and accurate and 1-min of analysis time is adequate for each assay. Rapid assessment and monitoring of metabolic acidosis is possible with these methods, as is illustrated by examples.