The relative merits and applicability of kinetic and fixed-incubation methods of enzyme assay in clinical enzymology.

The considerations are discussed that make continuous monitoring of reaction-progress curves superior to fixed-incubation methods in the determination of enzyme activity. Provided that they are used with caution and their limitations are appreciated, fixedincubation methods continue to fulfill a useful, though diminishing, role in clinical enzymology because of their adaptability to existing patterns of automation. The introduction of suitable mechanized equipment will favor the eventual complete adoption of the kinetic method. However, the use of such equipment should not be at the expense of the important characteristics of the kinetic principle.