Evaluation of the PaT Stat™ kinetic UV Test Set for the determination of phenylalanine and tyrosine in serum or plasma

Abstract

We have evaluated the PaT Stat Kinetic UV Test Kit for the simultaneous determination of phenylalanine (Phe) and tyrosine (Tyr) in plasma or serum. The Phe and Tyr concentrations measured with the kit show a coefficient of variation of about 15% for both within- and between-day determinations. The assays for both Phe and Tyr are linear to concentrations of at least 18 mg/dL without predilution of the specimen. Concentration differences of as little as 0.5 mg/dL are distinguishable. No significant interference was found from either phenylpyruvate or phenyllactate at levels up to 0.5 mM, nor from bilirubin, haemoglobin, or triglycerides at levels well above those generally found in clinical specimens. A comparative study of 70 clinical specimens, using the kit method and an amino acid analyzer (AAA) showed a linear relationship. Least-squares analysis of the data yielded the following parameters (AAA as reference): slope = 0.93 to 1.00, intercept = 0.04 to 0.21, correlation coefficient = 0.97 to 0.98. We conclude that the kit is suitable for the determination of Phe and Tyr in plasma or serum and can enable any laboratory equipped with a recording UV-spectrophotometer to assay these two amino acids for the dietary management of PKU.