We have developed an automated colorimetric assay for glycated serum proteins (or fructosamines), measuring the reducing activity of serum in alkaline solution (pH 10.35) at 37 degrees C. The calibrants were prepared from a synthetic fructosamine (1-deoxy-1-morpholinofructose), although secondary standards of glycated bovine albumin were more robust in routine application. Interference was appreciable only with icteric specimens (bilirubin greater than 60 mumol/L), and between-batch imprecision (CV) was less than 2%. The range of fructosamine concentrations measured in 502 healthy (nondiabetic) blood donors was 1.87-2.87 mmol/L. There were no significant (p greater than 0.05) age- or sex-related differences in this population sample. Fructosamine accurately reflected blood glucose control as evidenced by the significant correlation with glucose concentrations in fasting plasma (r = 0.82, p less than 0.001) and with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (r = 0.87, p less than 0.01) in 115 patients with type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. The test is simple and rapid to perform (75 samples per hour) and provides an alternative to HbA1c determinations for monitoring blood glucose control and assessing the effects of changes in diabetes management.

No abstract

Measurement of protein glycation (fructosamine) has become an accepted tool in diabetes diagnostics. Among d'ifferent methods available, the serum fructosamine fest published by Johnson and Baker in 1982has gained wide acceptance due to a simple and easily automated assay procedure providing clinically meaningful results. A receht modification ofthe Nitroblue Tetrazolium (NBT) reagent, improved by addition of tensides and uricase f exhibits Iower interference by Hpaemia and urate. 11 is also less affected by the sample matrix and yields results closer to the physiological ränge of glycated proteins. Furthermore, a completely new standardization protocol was used in the preparation of calibration material. The new colorimetric method for the determination of fructosamine was evaluated in 12 European clinical laboratories.

No abstract

No abstract