Determination of uric acid on continuous-flow (AutoAnalyzer II and SMA) systems with a uricase/phenol/4-aminophenazone color test.

This report describes a new specific colorimetric procedure for uric acid assay with AutoAnalyzer II and SMA (Technicon) systems, made specific by the application of uricase. Hydrogen preroxide, formed in this reaction, effects the oxidative coupling of 4-aminophenazone and 2,4-dichlorophenol under the catalytic influence of peroxidase. The red dye formed is measured at 505 or 520 nm. A sample blank measurement is not necessary, and the reagents show very good stability. The test shows linearity up to 714 mumol of uric acid per liter. Results of thie method correlate very well with those by the uricase-ultraviolet and uricase--catalase methods. There is no interference by hemoglobin, bilirubin, lipemia, and various drugs, except a minor interference by alpha-methyldopa. Interference from ascorbate is eliminated by ascorbate oxidase. This method can be regarded as a considerably improved routine test for uric acid on continuous-flow systems in clinical laboratories as compared with the commonly used phosphotungstate method.