A simple spectrophotometric assay for urinary leukocyte esterase activity. 1988

V V Murthy, and A Karmen
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461.

We have developed a sensitive spectrophotometric method for assaying urinary leukocyte esterase activity by employing a synthetic substrate, N-toluene sulfonyl indoxyl alanine ester. This kinetic assay can be performed with a small aliquot of urine, by following the change in absorbance of the chromophore at 385 nm. It is rapid and specific for leukocyte esterase and therefore can be used in the early diagnosis of urinary tract infection.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007202 Indicators and Reagents Substances used for the detection, identification, analysis, etc. of chemical, biological, or pathologic processes or conditions. Indicators are substances that change in physical appearance, e.g., color, at or approaching the endpoint of a chemical titration, e.g., on the passage between acidity and alkalinity. Reagents are substances used for the detection or determination of another substance by chemical or microscopical means, especially analysis. Types of reagents are precipitants, solvents, oxidizers, reducers, fluxes, and colorimetric reagents. (From Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed, p301, p499) Indicator,Reagent,Reagents,Indicators,Reagents and Indicators
D007700 Kinetics The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D007962 Leukocytes White blood cells. These include granular leukocytes (BASOPHILS; EOSINOPHILS; and NEUTROPHILS) as well as non-granular leukocytes (LYMPHOCYTES and MONOCYTES). Blood Cells, White,Blood Corpuscles, White,White Blood Cells,White Blood Corpuscles,Blood Cell, White,Blood Corpuscle, White,Corpuscle, White Blood,Corpuscles, White Blood,Leukocyte,White Blood Cell,White Blood Corpuscle
D002265 Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases Enzymes which catalyze the hydrolysis of carboxylic acid esters with the formation of an alcohol and a carboxylic acid anion. Carboxylesterases,Ester Hydrolases, Carboxylic,Hydrolases, Carboxylic Ester
D004950 Esterases Any member of the class of enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of an ester bond and result in the addition of water to the resulting molecules. Esterase
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013053 Spectrophotometry The art or process of comparing photometrically the relative intensities of the light in different parts of the spectrum.
D014556 Urine Liquid by-product of excretion produced in the kidneys, temporarily stored in the bladder until discharge through the URETHRA.

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