Four methods for determining uric acid compared with a candidate reference method.

Uric acid as measured in serum by three different uricase (EC 1.7.3.3) methods (aca, Ektachem, and SMAC) and by the SMAC method with phosphotungstic acid was compared with a candidate Reference Method for uric acid. Serum specimens from 83 patients (uric acid concentrations, 19 to 141 mg/L) were analyzed by all five methods. Results were compared by using linear regression analysis, and the mean difference between results by the candidate Reference Method and the four other methods was calculated. Compared with the candidate Reference Method, the aca method gave the smallest deviation from zero for the intercept and the smallest mean difference, and the SMAC phosphotungstic acid method showed a slope closest to unity. The SMAC uricase method had the largest intercept and greatest deviation of the slope from unity.