p-Nitrophenylglycosides as substrates for measurement of amylase in serum and urine.

Pantrak E.K. (endpoint and kinetic) Amylase reagent (Calbiochem-Behring) is the first commercially available alpha-amylase reagent in which p-nitrophenyl-d-glycosides are used as the substrate. We describe the effect of reagent composition on reagent performance. The reagent performance compares well with that of Amylochrome reagent (Hoffmann-La Roche), Du Pont aca, and Beckman D.S. amylase reagents in assays of sera and urines. We detected no interference from increased concentrations of glucose or pyruvate in the sample. The reagent can be used in either a manual fixed-time or an automatable kinetic assay.