An enzymatic-spectrophotometric determination of pyruvic and lactic acid in blood. Methodologic aspects.

1N11 ANY clinical and experimental problems concerning anaerobic metabolism and the accumulation of an oxygen debt have recently been studied, using Huckabee’s concept of “excess lactate” (1). Colonmetric methods have most often been used to measure pyruvic and lactic acid in blood (2, 3). The estimation of these two metabolites by an enzymatic analysis has advantages-e.g., specificity and ease of performance-that would make such methods more suitable t-han determinations based on colorimetry. The following study was undertaken to delineate the linearity, sensitivity, precision, reproducibility, and recovery of an enzymatic-spectrophotometric analysis of pyruvic and lactic acid in whole blood.