Marzo A, Cardace G, Corbelletta C, Verga P, Vinciguerra C
Sigma-Tau S.p.A., Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetic Department, Pomezia, Italy.
Arzneimittelforschung. 1995 Dec;45(12):1303-5.
This paper describes the interference of heparin (CAS 9005-49-6) in whole plasma used for free and total levocarnitine (L-carnitine, CAS 541-15-1) analysis. Alkaline hydrolysis required for total L-carnitine measurement does not overcome the problem. The same interference is also present in long-chain acyl-L-carnitine assay, because heparin precipitates together with proteins and long-chain esters of L-carnitine in the acid insoluble fraction of perchloric acid treated plasma sample. In this case an appropriate cleaning of the sample is recommended before the assay.
