Interference in a chromogenic alpha-amylase assay caused by dye-labeled oligosaccharide-induced precipitation of lipoprotein.

We examined the mechanism by which hypertriglyceridemia interferes with the Roche Diagnostics "Amylochrome" procedure for measurement of amylase in lactescent samples with normal and above-normal amylase activity. The serum blank recommended in the Amylochrome protocol to compensate for lactescence remains inappropriately turbid, compared with the test, and is partly responsible for the underestimation of amylase activity. Other major interference is seen when lipoprotein in hyperlipemic samples with above-normal amylase activity reacts with the soluble oligosaccharide-triazinyl dye product of the Amylochrome assay to form a flocculent blue precipitate. The formation of this precipitate in the test, and its removal, diminish lactescence due to lipemia, an effect that cannot be matched by any manipulation of a serum blank procedure. Oligosaccharide-dye product is removed as a component of the precipitate.