Determination of the fructosamine concentration in bovine serum samples.

The study reports on a spectrophotometric assay for the determination of serum fructosamine concentration. The assay was evaluated for use in bovine serum samples by assessment of the precision, accuracy and detectability. A reference interval for the bovine serum fructosamine concentration was also established. Further, the effect of acute changes in blood glucose on serum fructosamine concentration as well as the diurnal variations of the serum fructosamine concentration were investigated. The main conclusions can be summarized as follows: Determination of bovine serum fructosamines may be achieved by a precise and accurate assay with a detection limit well below the serum fructosamine concentration normally found in bovine sera. As a reference interval for the bovine serum fructosamine concentration 213.4 mumol/l to 265.0 mumol/l may be used. Serum fructosamine concentration is not affected by acute changes in blood glucose, and it displays no significant diurnal variation in cows.