Protein method influences on calculation of tissue receptor concentration.

Many protein methods are used for estimation of tissue receptor concentration. The authors compared performance, analytic variability, and accuracy of six protein methods used in these calculations. They found the Lowry protein procedure standardized with bovine serum albumin (BSA), usually considered the reference method, to be the most imprecise and most time consuming method. When the BSA standards from the Lowry procedure were assayed with the other methods, results ranged from 74 to 141% of expected. For three other protein standards, reactivity among the six methods varied almost twofold. Comparison of Lowry protein concentrations in cytosols from 46 tumors biopsies with other methods indicated best agreement was with an automated turbidometric (TCA) or a Coomassie dyebinding procedure. Use of protein standardization for the two direct spectrophotometric procedures decreased overestimation of receptor protein concentrations. Because receptor concentration is the quotient of receptor quantity and protein concentrations, tissue receptor results are dependent in part on standardization and choice of protein method.

Influences of specimen processing and storage conditions on results for plasma ammonia.

Ammonia concentrations in plasma may increase because of contamination and deterioration of blood components during specimen handling and storage. Using replicate specimens from healthy volunteers, we studied influences of specimen processing and storage procedures on ammonia measurements made with a self-contained reagent system. Under some conditions, ammonia concentrations more than doubled. The use of nonhemolyzed plasma specimens and prompt centrifugation, separation of plasma, and ammonia determination apparently were important in avoiding such increases, the duration of contact between plasma and cells being the most important factor. Lower temperatures had minimal effect on whole-blood storage and centrifugation, but retarded increases in ammonia in stored plasma. We conclude that procedures for collection and storage of specimens for ammonia determinations should be standardized and strictly observed.