Single- and coupled-enzyme nylon-tube reactors for plasma glucose determination with glucose oxidase and aldehyde dehydrogenase.

We describe routine methods for determining glucose in plasma with use of aldehyde dehydrogenase or glucose oxidase-aldehyde dehydrogenase immobilized in a nylon tube that is integrated into a continuous-flow system. Although the coupled-enzyme nylon-tube reactors require the presence of a third enzyme, catalase, in solution, the kinetics are not so complicated as to preclude reliable routine determination of glucose at very low cost. Precision is good, and results correlate well with those by the method involving glucose oxidase in solution. More than 3000 tests may be carried out with one reactor. The immobilized enzymes are stable for several months at 4 degrees C when not in use.