The use of immobilized enzyme reactors in continuous-flow analyzers for the determination of glucose, urea, and uric acid.

We describe the use of immobilized enzymes in assay methods for the determination of glucose with glucose oxidase, uric acid with uricase, and urea with urease in serum samples. The enzyme reactor tubes were adapted to continuous-flow analyzers (Technicon AA II, SMA 12/60, and SMAC) used in routine laboratory determinations, and results with their use were compared to those from assays involving soluble enzymes. We substituted the reactors for the free enzyme reagents in the respective channels of the SMA 12/60 and SMAC, without modifying the parameters of the remaining channels. We compared assay sensitivity, precision, and carryover for immobilized and conventional liquid enzymes. Immobilized enzyme reactors provide accurate, reliable, convenient, and economical alternatives to the use of free enzyme reagents in these systems.