Diagnostic reagent for quantitative in vitro determination of Alanine Aminotransferase in human serum or plasma, measuring range 4-600 U/L.

Diagnostic reagent for quantitative in vitro determination of Alanine Aminotransferase in human serum or plasma, measuring range 4-600 U/L.

Alanine Aminotransferase (ALAT/ALT), also called Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase (GPT) and Aspartate Aminotransferase (ASAT/AST), formerly called Glutamic Oxalacetic Transaminase (GOT) are the most important representatives of a group of enzymes, the aminotransferases or transaminases, which catalyse the conversion of α-keto acids into amino acids by transfer of amino groups. As liver specific enzyme AST is only significantly elevated in hepatobiliary diseases. Increased AST levels, however, can occur in connection with damages of heart or skeletal muscle as well as of liver parenchyma. Parallel measurement of ALT and AST is therefore applied to distinguish liver from heart or skeletal muscle damages. The AST/ALT ratio is used for differential diagnosis in liver diseases. While ratios < 1 indicate mild liver damage, ratios > 1 are associated with severe, often chronic liver diseases.

NADH is oxidized to NAD+, the resulting decrease in absorbance at 340 nm is directly proportional to the activity of ALT in the sample. This is a modified formulation for the assay of ALT, as recommended by the IFCC (International Federation of Clinical Chemistry). The IFCC reference method includes pyridoxal-5’-phosphate (P-5-P). P-5-P serves as coenzyme in AA transfer and stabilizes the activity of transaminases. Therefore, addition of P-5-P avoids falsely low values in samples containing insufficient endogenous P-5-P, e.g. from patients with myocardial infarction, liver disease and intensive care patients.

Each kit contains 4 x 50ml R1 (Tris, pH 7.8, L-Alanine and LDH) and 1 x 50ml R2 (2-Oxoglutarate and NADH) ready-to-use reagents. Mix four parts of Reagent 1 with 1 part of Reagent 2 to make the working reagents, this can be stored at 2-8C for 4 weeks.

The recommended calibrator is the Dialcal Auto (D98485SV).

Suggested QC are the Diacon Control Serum (D98481SV & D98482SV).