Studies on the Gomori acid phosphatase reaction: the preparation of the incubation medium.

The pH of the buffer, the initial concentrations and order of mixing of the reactants, and the length of the pre-incubation at 37 degrees C have all been found to be important in determining the final composition of the Gomori acid phosphatase medium. In a conventionally prepared medium, as much as 70% of the lead salt can be precipitated as lead glycerophosphate during a 24 h pre-incubation at 37 degrees C. The use of acetate buffer at pH 4.7, mixed with the other reactants after maximal dilution, has made possible the preparation of an incubation medium which contains those concentrations of substrate, lead salt and buffer originally proposed by Gomori, and yet does not precipitate.