Conditions affecting the colorimetry of orotic acid and orotidine in urine.

We studied conditions affecting a colorimetric assay of total orotic acid (orotic acid plus orotidine) in urine. Most interfering substances can be conveniently removed on a small column of cation-exchange resin, and an improved control reaction corrects for residual background color. Analytical recovery from urine is nearly complete (greater than 95%) and the absorption spectrum for analyte eluted from the column closely resembles that for an orotic acid standard. We determined reference intervals for total orotic acid, expressed as a molar ratio to creatinine, for neonates, children, and adults, and assessed the effect of age, protein intake, and pregnancy. The method is simple enough to use as a reliable and accurate urine-screening test.