We describe a reagent for measuring alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) activity in serum with use of a thexyldimethylsilyl ether of p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-maltoheptaoside (SB7) as substrate. This substrate differs from Genzyme's benzylidene-blocked p-nitrophenylmaltoheptaoside substrate (B-PNPG7). The reagent, optimized for the characteristics of the silyl-blocked substrate, contains 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-...

The method described here is based on a brief report by Harley-Mason and Archer. It involves the use of p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMACA), a vinylogue of Ehrlich's reagent, as a color reagent for indoles. Colorimetric analyses of indoleacetic acid (IAA) oxidation reaction mixtures were made with the DMACA reagent as a solution rather than a spray. DMACA reagent will yield a wine-red color w...

BACKGROUND During the last twenty years, the extraction of specific egg yolk (IgY) antibodies from the immunized chickens has been accepted as a useful alternative to the immunization of mammals. The aim of the present study was immunizing the chickens with Human Umbilical Cord Serum (HUCS) and the extraction of specific anti-human globulins (IgG, C3b, and C3d) antibodies from egg yolk in order...

Since the end of the evaluation the assay has been in routine use and no problem has been exp.erienced, although the reagents were from the same batch. Further clarification of the difficulty is required. Original studies on the uric acid methodology were performed using the Boehringer Urica-quant kit, as recommended by Coulter, but the correlation studies showed poor agreement with standard te...

We compared a fluorescein-labeled monoclonal antibody directed against an outer membrane protein of Legionella pneumophila (Genetic Systems Corp. [GSC], Seattle, Wash.) with a similarly labeled polyclonal reagent (L. pneumophila serogroups 1 to 6, poly; BioDx, Inc., Denville, N.J.) for the confirmation of L. pneumophila isolates grown in culture. Duplicate suspensions of 52 organisms, including...

I examined a cholesterol-assay kit ("Autoflo", Biodynamics/bmc) designed for use with continuous-flow instrumentation for its use with some discrete analyzers. At pH 7.2, color develops within 3 min upon exposure to cholesterol, then begins to fade. At pH 8, the color develops more slowly but remains stable for at least 15 min after reaching a maximum. A pH 8.8, the color develops still more sl...