Liquid nitrogen preservation of Saccharomyces carlsbergensis and its use in a rapid biological assay of pantothenic acid.

A rapid direct turbidimetric determination of pantothenic acid with the use of Saccharomyces carlsbergensis was developed. With a 5.5-hr incubation, the bioassay demonstrated good dose responses within a range up to 0.04 mug/ml of calcium pantothenate. The multivitamin product assay values obtained by the rapid assay method compare well with the values obtained by the standard USP method. beta-Alanine interference was reduced to an insignificant level by the incorporation of asparagine in the assay medium. The Upjohn complex products which require Mylase-P enzyme digestion treatments were also satisfactorily assayed.