ABSTRACT
The objective of this work is to establish the diagnostic efficiency of the determination of the ratio between heat-stable [H-S] and total [T] alkaline phosphatase activities in dry blood stains on an absorbent surface [Cotton Cloth] in cases of pregnancy. Blood samples were obtained from healthy adult males and nonpregnant females [Control group, 10 cases, 5 males and 5 females], pregnant females at different stages of pregnancy [30 samples, 10 in each trimester] and patients with elevated values of alkaline phosphatase [obstructive jaundice, 9 samples]. The blood stains were left at room temperature for different periods up to 6 months. The values of [H-S] and [T] alkaline phosphatase were measured in the serum of the control group and the blood stains of all groups and then we determined the ratio between them [H-S/T]. We found that the values of [H-S] and [T] alkaline phosphatase in the serum were higher than those in the blood stains of the control group but the ratio was the same. There was a statistically significant progressive rise in the ratios between [H-S] and [T] alkaline phosphatase in blood stains of pregnant females at different trimesters and a significant decreased ratio in the blood-stains of the group of obstructive jaundice. The same results were obtained with aged blood stains up to 6 months