Three automated quantitative assays for serum proteins.

Three quantitative assays for detection of proteins are reported. One is an adaptation to the Auto-Analyzer of the widely used method of Lowry et al. In another procedure, the product of the reaction of proteins with a modified biuret reacts with the phosphomolybdic--phosphotungstic reagent of Folin and Ciocalteu. The third method, performed on hydrolyzed sample, is based on the measurement of proline (Pro) and the conversion of the Pro content into protein. The universal presence of proline in serum proteins suggested this assay. The values for total serum proteins as assayed by the three procedures are similar. The second and the third assay for proteins, described in this paper, can also be performed manually. Studies on interfering substances and their elimination as well as on the sensitivity of the assays are reported.