Enzymic fluorometric assay of plasma ammonia with a centrifugal analyzer.

This method for rapid plasma ammonia determination, supplied in the form of a commercially available kit, is based on a combination of enzymic reaction and fluorometry. Concentrations up to 350 mumol/L can be measured. The detection limit is 15 mumol/L. Intra-assay coefficients of variation for 30 and 100 mumol/L concentrations were 5.0% and 3.0%, respectively. The corresponding interassay CVs were 8.0% and 3.8%. Assay of 16 samples takes about 15 min. Only 25 microL of sample is required, which makes this assay suitable for pediatric use and small-animal research.