A simple, rapid method for the determination of glucose, lactate, pyruvate, alanine, 3-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate on a single 20-mul blood sample.

Existing methods for the estimation of glucose, lactate, pyruvate, alanine, 3-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate normally require relatively large volumes of blood. In addition spectrophotometric methods are tedious and time-consuming. A series of simple methods for the measurement of these metabolites whereby all can be measured on a single 20-microl blood sample is described here. All methods, with the exception of that for glucose, which is measured spectrophotometrically, depend on the use of fluorimetry to determine the concentration of the reduced co-enzyme NADH. As far as is possible, the methods have been standardised for the sake of simplicity and convenience. In routine use they have proved to be both rapid and reliable.