Enzyme co-immobilization for the sequential determination of lactic acid and glucose in serum

An enzymatic method for the sequential determination of lactic acid and glucose is proposed. Sample matrix effects are overcome by using an internally coupled valve system. The problem arising from the dissimilar concentrations of the two analytes commonly occurring in serum is solved by applying the scale-expansion technique with a diode-array spectrophotometer. The determination ranges are 10–400 and 2–100 μg ml^?1 for lactic acid and glucose, respectively (r.s.d. 1.63 and 2.30%; n=11). Mixtures of these compounds in ratios up to 1:10 can be readily resolved, which allows their determination in serum with good results.